2B4 co-stimulation: NK cells and their control of adaptive immune responses

NK cells have primarily been defined by their ability to kill infected cells, tumor cells and some normal cells expressing low levels of MHC class I molecules. NK cells have also been shown to affect adaptive immune responses by their production of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Recently it has been shown that adaptive immune responses can be enhanced or maintained also through direct lymphocyte-lymphocyte interactions. One of these interactions was identified to occur between 2134 and CD48, where 2114 acted as a costimulatory ligand for both NK cells and T cells. In the Current article, we discuss the role of 2134 in the development of adaptive immune responses and the role of NK-T cell interactions in these responses. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.