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HLA-E is the ligand for the natural killer cell CD94/NKG2 receptors

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Journal of Biomedical Science

Abstract

CD94/NKG2 is a recently described receptor present on natural killer (NK) cells and certain T cells that is composed of the CD94 chain covalently associated with a member of the NKG2 family of molecules. Both chains are glycosylated members of the C-type lectin superfamily. The CD94/NKG2 receptors are functionally heterogenous depending on which NKG2 family member is associated with CD94. Initially, it was thought that CD94/NKG2 receptors recognized a broad array of HLA-A, -B and -C (classical), as well as the nonclassical HLA-G, MHC class I molecules. Instead, recent data have suggested that this receptor is specific for HLA-E complexed with a peptide derived from the signal sequence (residues 3–11) of certain classical MHC class I molecules. Position 2 (residue 4) in the signal sequence derived peptides appears pivotal in determining whether the HLA-E/peptide complex confers resistance to NK-mediated lysis. The potential roles that the CD94/NKG2-HLA-E receptor ligand interaction might play in infection and tumor development are discussed.

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  1. Structural Biology Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Twinbrook II, Rockville, Md., USA

    Phillip E. Posch & Andrew G. Brooks

  2. Laboratory of Immunogenetics, NIAID-NIH, Twinbrook II, 20852, Rockville, MD, USA

    Francisco Borrego & John E. Coligan PhD

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  1. Phillip E. Posch
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Posch, P.E., Borrego, F., Brooks, A.G. et al. HLA-E is the ligand for the natural killer cell CD94/NKG2 receptors. J Biomed Sci 5, 321–331 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02253442

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