自然杀伤细胞受体的研究进展

Research Progress in Natural Killer Cell Receptors

自然杀伤细胞(NK细胞)可表达两类功能相悖的识别受体,即活化受体(KAR)和抑制受体(KIR)。KIR能识别自身细胞上的MHCⅠ类分子与自身或外来肽形成的复合物,所产生的抑制信号可阻断KAR的活化,以此抑制NK细胞的细胞毒作用。如果靶细胞失去KIR所识别的配体,NK细胞即可通过KAR对靶细胞进行攻击。本文将介绍此类受体的结构及其识别与信号转导机制的研究进展。

Natural killer cell expresses two kinds of recognition receptors with contrary functions: killer cell activatory receptors(KAR) and killer cell inhibitory receptors(KIR). KIR can interact with MHC I type molecular self/nonself peptide complex expressed on self cell surface, and produce inhibitory signals which can prevent the activation of KAR, thereby preventing the cytotoxicity of NK cells.NK cell will trigger effector functions(cytolysis) by KAR, if target cell loses appropriate ligands recognized by KIR. In this article we will review the research progress in the structure of these receptors, their recognition and signal transduction mechanisms.