Immunology Graduate Program, Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8045, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Trends Immunol. 2011 Aug;32(8):364-72. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2011.06.001. Epub 2011 Jul 13.
Natural killer (NK) cells, like B and T lymphocytes, are potent effector cells that are crucial for immunity to tumors and infections. These effector responses must be controlled to avoid inadvertent attack against normal self. Yet, the mechanisms that guide NK cell tolerance differ from those guiding T and B cell tolerance. Here, we discuss how NK cells are licensed by self-MHC class I molecules through their inhibitory receptors which results in NK cell functional competence to be triggered through their activation receptors. We discuss recent data with respect to issues related to licensing, thereby providing a framework for unifying concepts on NK cell education.
自然杀伤 (NK) 细胞与 B 和 T 淋巴细胞一样,是强大的效应细胞,对肿瘤和感染的免疫至关重要。这些效应反应必须受到控制,以避免对正常自身的意外攻击。然而,指导 NK 细胞耐受的机制与指导 T 和 B 细胞耐受的机制不同。在这里,我们讨论了 NK 细胞如何通过其抑制性受体被自身 MHC Ⅰ类分子许可,从而导致 NK 细胞功能能力通过其激活受体被触发。我们讨论了与许可相关的最新数据,从而为统一 NK 细胞教育的概念提供了一个框架。