NK cells and T cells: mirror images?

Immunol Today. 1992 Jul;13(7):244-7. doi: 10.1016/0167-5699(92)90003-P.

Abstract

The expression of MHC class I molecules protects cells against lysis by natural killer (NK) cells. It is possible that NK cells are 'educated' to recognize self MHC class I molecules and that the combination of self peptide and MHC class I molecule blocks NK-mediated lysis. Here, Rogier Versteeg compares and contrasts models of education and self-nonself discrimination by T cells and NK cells, and presents a hypothesis for the evolution of T cells from NK cells.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology*
  • Immune Tolerance*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Lymphoma / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL / immunology
  • Models, Biological*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • Selection, Genetic
  • Sequence Homology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Peptide Fragments