Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are transmembrane glycoproteins expressed by natural killer cells and subsets of T cells. The KIR genes are polymorphic and highly homologous and they are found in a cluster on chromosome 19q13.4 within the 1 Mbleukocyte receptor complex (LRC). The gene content of the KIR gene cluster varies among haplotypes, although several "framework" genes are found in all haplotypes (KIR3DL3, KIR3DP1, KIR2DL4, KIR3DL2). The KIR proteins are classified by the number of extracellular immunoglobulin domains (2D or 3D) and by whether they have a long (L) or short (S) cytoplasmic domain. KIR proteins with the long cytoplasmic domain transduce inhibitory signals upon ligand binding via an immune tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM), while KIR proteins with the short cytoplasmic domain lack the ITIM motif and instead associate with the TYRO protein tyrosine kinase binding protein to transduce activating signals. The ligands for several KIR proteins are subsets of HLA class I molecules; thus, KIR proteins are thought to play an important role in regulation of the immune response.[5]
^Baba E, Erskine R, Boyson JE, Cohen GB, Davis DM, Malik P, Mandelboim O, Reyburn HT, Strominger JL (December 2000). "N-linked carbohydrate on human leukocyte antigen-C and recognition by natural killer cell inhibitory receptors".Hum. Immunol.61 (12):1202–18.doi:10.1016/S0198-8859(00)00184-1.PMID11163076.
^Fan QR, Long EO, Wiley DC (May 2001). "Crystal structure of the human natural killer cell inhibitory receptor KIR2DL1-HLA-Cw4 complex".Nat. Immunol.2 (5):452–60.doi:10.1038/87766.PMID11323700.S2CID24707532.
Fan QR, Mosyak L, Winter CC, Wagtmann N, Long EO, Wiley DC (1997). "Structure of the inhibitory receptor for human natural killer cells resembles haematopoietic receptors".Nature.389 (6646):96–100.Bibcode:1997Natur.389...96F.doi:10.1038/38028.PMID9288975.S2CID4365964.
Kim J, Chwae YJ, Kim MY, Choi IH, Park JH, Kim SJ (1997). "Molecular basis of HLA-C recognition by p58 natural killer cell inhibitory receptors".J. Immunol.159 (8):3875–82.doi:10.4049/jimmunol.159.8.3875.PMID9378975.S2CID21878260.
Shilling HG, Lienert-Weidenbach K, Valiante NM, Uhrberg M, Parham P (1998). "Evidence for recombination as a mechanism for KIR diversification".Immunogenetics.48 (6):413–6.doi:10.1007/s002510050453.PMID9799338.S2CID11887627.
Chwae YJ, Cho SE, Kim SJ, Kim J (1999). "Diversity of the repertoire of p58 killer cell inhibitory receptors in a single individual".Immunol. Lett.68 (2–3):267–74.doi:10.1016/S0165-2478(99)00062-0.PMID10424431.
Baba E, Erskine R, Boyson JE, Cohen GB, Davis DM, Malik P, Mandelboim O, Reyburn HT, Strominger JL (2001). "N-linked carbohydrate on human leukocyte antigen-C and recognition by natural killer cell inhibitory receptors".Hum. Immunol.61 (12):1202–18.doi:10.1016/S0198-8859(00)00184-1.PMID11163076.
Fan QR, Long EO, Wiley DC (2001). "Crystal structure of the human natural killer cell inhibitory receptor KIR2DL1-HLA-Cw4 complex".Nat. Immunol.2 (5):452–60.doi:10.1038/87766.PMID11323700.S2CID24707532.
