Human NKG2D receptor complex assembles into a hexameric structure. NKG2D itself forms a homodimer whose ectodomains serve for ligand binding.[7] Each NKG2D monomer is associated with DAP10 dimer. This association is maintained by ionic interaction of a positively charged arginine present in a transmembrane segment of NKG2D and negatively charged aspartic acids within both transmembrane regions of DAP10 dimer.[8]DAP10 functions as an adaptor protein and transduces the signal after the ligand binding by recruiting the p85 subunit of PI3K and Grb2-Vav1 complex which are responsible for subsequent downstream events.[9]
In mice, alternative splicing generates two distinct NKG2D isoforms: the long one (NKG2D-L) and the short one (NKG2D-S). NKG2D-L binds DAP10 similarly to human NKG2D. By contrast, NKG2D-S associates with two adaptor proteins: DAP10 and DAP12.[10]DAP10 recruits the p85 subunit of PI3K and a complex of Grb2 and Vav1.[9]DAP12 bears ITAM motif and activates protein tyrosine kinases Syk and Zap70 signalling.[11]
NKG2D ligands
NKG2D ligands are induced-self proteins which are completely absent or present only at low levels on surface of normal cells, but they are overexpressed by infected, transformed, senescent and stressed cells. Their expression is regulated at different stages (transcription, mRNA and protein stabilization, cleavage from the cell surface) by various stress pathways.[12] Among them, one of the most prominent stress pathways is DNA damage response. Genotoxic stress, stalled DNA replication, poorly regulated cell proliferation in tumorigenesis, viral replication or some viral products activate the ATM and ATR kinases. These kinases initiate the DNA damage response pathway which participates in NKG2D ligand upregulation. DNA damage response thus participate in alerting the immune system to the presence of potentially dangerous cells.[13]
All NKG2D ligands are homologous to MHC class I molecules and are divided into two families: MIC and RAET1/ULBP.
MIC family
Human MIC genes are located within the MHC locus and are composed of seven members (MICA-G), of which only MICA and MICB produce functional transcripts. In mice, MIC genes are absent.[14]
NKG2D is a major recognition receptor for the detection and elimination of transformed and infected cells as its ligands are induced during cellular stress, either as a result of infection or genomic stress such as in cancer.[15] In NK cells, NKG2D serves as an activating receptor, which itself is able to trigger cytotoxicity. The function of NKG2D on CD8+ T cells is to send co-stimulatory signals to activate them.[16]
Role in viral infection
Viruses, as intracellular pathogens, can induce the expression of stress ligands for NKG2D. NKG2D is thought to be important in viral control as viruses have adapted mechanisms by which to evade NKG2D responses.[17] For example, cytomegalovirus (CMV) encodes a protein, UL16, which binds to NKG2D ligands ULBP1 and 2 (thus their name "UL16-binding protein") and MICB, which prevents their surface expression.[18]
Role in tumour control
As cancerous cells are "stressed", NKG2D ligands become upregulated, rendering the cell susceptible to NK cell-mediated lysis. Tumor cells that can evade NKG2D responses are thus more likely to propagate.[17][19]
Role in senescent cell removal
As part of the DNA damage response during induction of cellular senescence, cells upregulate the expression of NKG2D ligands that enable NK-mediated killing of senescent cells via the granule exocytosis pathway. [20][21]
↑Brown MG, Fulmek S, Matsumoto K, Cho R, Lyons PA, Levy ER, Scalzo AA, Yokoyama MW (1997). "A 2-Mb YAC contig and physical map of the natural killer gene complex on mouse chromosome 6". Genomics. 42 (1): 16–25. doi:10.1006/geno.1997.4721. PMID9177771.
↑Yabe T, McSherry C, Bach FH, Fisch P, Schall RP, Sondel PM, Houchins JP (1993). "A multigene family on human chromosome 12 encodes natural killer-cell lectins". Immunogenetics. 37 (6): 455–460. doi:10.1007/BF00222470. PMID8436421.
↑Jamieson AM, Diefenbach A, McMahon CW, Xiong N, Carlyle JR, Raulet DH (2002). "The role of the NKG2D immunoreceptor in immune cell activation and natural killing". Immunity. 17 (1): 19–29. doi:10.1016/S1074-7613(02)00333-3. PMID12150888.
↑Bauer S, Groh V, Wu J, Steinle A, Phillips JH, Lanier LL, Spies T (Jul 1999). "Activation of NK cells and T cells by NKG2D, a receptor for stress-inducible MICA". Science. 285 (5428): 727–9. doi:10.1126/science.285.5428.727. PMID10426993.
↑Raulet DH (Oct 2003). "Roles of the NKG2D immunoreceptor and its ligands". Nature Reviews. Immunology. 3 (10): 781–90. doi:10.1038/nri1199. PMID14523385.
↑Li P, Morris DL, Willcox BE, Steinle A, Spies T, Strong RK (May 2001). "Complex structure of the activating immunoreceptor NKG2D and its MHC class I-like ligand MICA". Nature Immunology. 2 (5): 443–51. doi:10.1038/87757. PMID11323699.
↑ 9.09.1Upshaw JL, Arneson LN, Schoon RA, Dick CJ, Billadeau DD, Leibson PJ (May 2006). "NKG2D-mediated signaling requires a DAP10-bound Grb2-Vav1 intermediate and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase in human natural killer cells". Nature Immunology. 7 (5): 524–32. doi:10.1038/ni1325. PMID16582911.
↑Diefenbach A, Tomasello E, Lucas M, Jamieson AM, Hsia JK, Vivier E, Raulet DH (Dec 2002). "Selective associations with signaling proteins determine stimulatory versus costimulatory activity of NKG2D". Nature Immunology. 3 (12): 1142–9. doi:10.1038/ni858. PMID12426565.
↑Gilfillan S, Ho EL, Cella M, Yokoyama WM, Colonna M (Dec 2002). "NKG2D recruits two distinct adapters to trigger NK cell activation and costimulation". Nature Immunology. 3 (12): 1150–5. doi:10.1038/ni857. PMID12426564.
↑ 14.014.1Carapito R, Bahram S (Sep 2015). "Genetics, genomics, and evolutionary biology of NKG2D ligands". Immunological Reviews. 267 (1): 88–116. doi:10.1111/imr.12328. PMID26284473.
↑González S, López-Soto A, Suarez-Alvarez B, López-Vázquez A, López-Larrea C (Aug 2008). "NKG2D ligands: key targets of the immune response". Trends in Immunology. 29 (8): 397–403. doi:10.1016/j.it.2008.04.007. PMID18602338.
↑Jamieson AM, Diefenbach A, McMahon CW, Xiong N, Carlyle JR, Raulet DH (Jul 2002). "The role of the NKG2D immunoreceptor in immune cell activation and natural killing". Immunity. 17 (1): 19–29. doi:10.1016/S1074-7613(02)00333-3. PMID12150888.
↑Welte SA, Sinzger C, Lutz SZ, Singh-Jasuja H, Sampaio KL, Eknigk U, Rammensee HG, Steinle A (Jan 2003). "Selective intracellular retention of virally induced NKG2D ligands by the human cytomegalovirus UL16 glycoprotein". European Journal of Immunology. 33 (1): 194–203. doi:10.1002/immu.200390022. PMID12594848.
↑Serrano AE, Menares-Castillo E, Garrido-Tapia M, Ribeiro CH, Hernández CJ, Mendoza-Naranjo A, Gatica-Andrades M, Valenzuela-Diaz R, Zúñiga R, López MN, Salazar-Onfray F, Aguillón JC, Molina MC (Mar 2011). "Interleukin 10 decreases MICA expression on melanoma cell surface". Immunology and Cell Biology. 89 (3): 447–57. doi:10.1038/icb.2010.100. PMID20714339.