Human CD8 + T-Cell Populations That Express Natural Killer Receptors

• Published in: Immune network Vol. 23; no. 1; p. e8
• Main Authors: Koh, June-Young, Kim, Dong-Uk, Moon, Bae-Hyeon, Shin, Eui-Cheol
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Association of Immunologists 01.02.2023
• Subjects: Review; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; NKG2A Receptor; CD56 Antigen; Receptors, KIR; Natural Killer Cell Receptors; NKG2C Receptor
• ISSN: 1598-2629; 2092-6685
• DOI: 10.4110/in.2023.23.e8

CD8 T cells are activated by TCRs that recognize specific cognate Ags, while NK-cell activation is regulated by a balance between signals from germline-encoded activating and inhibitory NK receptors. Through these different processes of Ag recognition, CD8 T cells and NK cells play distinct roles as adaptive and innate immune cells, respectively. However, some human CD8 T cells have been found to express activating or inhibitory NK receptors. CD8 T-cell populations expressing NK receptors straddle the innate-adaptive boundary with their innate-like features. Recent breakthrough technical advances in multi-omics analysis have enabled elucidation of the unique immunologic characteristics of these populations. However, studies have not yet fully clarified the heterogeneity and immunological characteristics of each CD8 T-cell population expressing NK receptors. Here we aimed to review the current knowledge of various CD8 T-cell populations expressing NK receptors, and to pave the way for delineating the landscape and identifying the various roles of these T-cell populations.