Activating and inhibitory receptors and their role in natural killer cell function

Abstract

Last decade has seen a significant advancement in our understanding of the Natural Killer (NK) cell biology and function. Several receptors present on NK cells have been identified, which are involved in either their activation or inhibition. Similarly, a large number of interacting ligands have been identified on the target cells that upon interaction transmit either activating or inhibitory signals. This review is oriented towards understanding the role of these receptors on the NK cells, which are considered as the first line of defense.