Regulation of T cell function by NK cell receptors for classical MHC class I molecules

Inhibitory receptors for MHC class I molecules were initially characterised on NK cells. Human and mouse NK cell receptors (NKRs) are also expressed on T cells, predominantly on a subset of memory-phenotype CD8(+) T cells. This review focuses on the precise determination of interactions between NKRs and MHC class I, as well as on the unexpected in vivo function of NKRs on T cells.