Natural killer cell–associated receptor

What is it about?

It has been demonstrated that cellular cytotoxicity is the result of a balance between activating signals triggered by the TCR and costimulatory molecules and inhibitory signals triggered by inhibitory receptors expressed by the CTL.

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Why is it important?

In this paper we review how altered expression of molecules required for T-cell costimulation could result in impaired lysis of melanoma. The modulation of antimelanoma T-cell responses by a group of receptors originally described on NK cells (NK-associated receptors) but which are now known also to be expressed on a subset of cytolytic effector cells is reviewed. We hypothesize that the expression of ligands for NKRs on melanoma cells may contribute to T-cell-mediated immune responses against melanoma either enhancing or inhibiting activation and differentiation to effector cells. Blocking inhibitory receptors or increasing activating receptors could result in new strategies to improve T-cell-mediated rejection of melanoma.