Abstract
HLA class I and NK receptors are encoded within dense clusters of immune loci. The MHC, at 6p21.3, and the complex containing the KIR loci, at 19q13.4, both feature variation in the number of genes, as well as sequence polymorphism. In addition to T cell receptors, several variable class I-related molecules interact with polymorphic NK receptors. Some of the lectin-related NK receptor genes, at 12p13.1, also have ligands belonging to the extended class I family. The expanding clusters of class I-related sequences and their receptors, some of which evolved recently, reveal further complexity in immune recognition of disease.
MeSH terms
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2
- ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / genetics
- Animals
- Antigens, CD / genetics*
- Biological Evolution
- Chromosome Mapping
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / physiology
- Humans
- Lectins, C-Type*
- Major Histocompatibility Complex*
- Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics*
- Multigene Family
- NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D
- Receptors, Immunologic / genetics*
- Receptors, KIR
- Receptors, Natural Killer Cell
Substances
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2
- ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
- Antigens, CD
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
- Lectins, C-Type
- Membrane Glycoproteins
- NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D
- Receptors, Immunologic
- Receptors, KIR
- Receptors, Natural Killer Cell
- TAP1 protein, human