Coevolution of killer cell Ig-like receptors with HLA-C to become the major variable regulators of human NK cells.

ABSTRACT: Interactions between HLA class I and killer cell Ig-like receptors (KIRs) diversify human NK cell responses. Dominant KIR ligands are the C1 and C2 epitopes of MHC-C, a young locus restricted to humans and great apes. C1- and C1-specific KIRs evolved first, being present in orangutan and functionally like their human counterparts. Orangutans lack C2 and C2-specific KIRs, but have a unique C1+C2-specific KIR that binds equally to C1 and C2. A receptor with this specificity likely provided the mechanism by which C2-KIR interaction evolved from C1-KIR while avoiding a nonfunctional intermediate, that is, either orphan receptor or ligand. Orangutan inhibitory MHC-C-reactive KIRs pair with activating receptors of identical avidity and specificity, contrasting with the selective attenuation of h

SUBMITTER: Older Aguilar AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3124317 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature