Preface ......................................................... v
1 Immune defense by human T and NK cells ....................... 1
1.1 Major players of the adaptive immune system: αβ T
cells ................................................... 2
1.1.1 CD4 effector functions ........................... 3
1.1.2 CD8 effector functions ........................... 5
1.1.3 Differentiation and memory ....................... 6
1.2 Linking innate and adaptive immunity: γδ T Cells ....... 10
1.2.1 Cell recognition of γδ T cells .................. 11
1.2.2 Physiological implications of γδ T cells ........ 14
1.3 Key players of innate immunity: NK cells ............... 14
1.3.1 NK recognition .................................. 15
1.3.2 NK receptors .................................... 17
1.3.2.1 Inhibitory NK receptors ................ 18
1.3.2.2 Activating NK receptors ................ 20
1.3.3 Genetic basis of NK recognition ................. 25
1.3.3.1 Structural aspects of CTLR ............. 25
1.3.3.2 Overall structure of the NKC ........... 27
1.3.4 The receptor NKp80 .............................. 29
1.3.5 Activation induced C-type lectin: AICL .......... 30
2 Aims of the thesis .......................................... 31
3 NKp80-AICL interaction mutually activates NK cells and
monocytes ................................................... 33
3.1 Abstract ............................................... 33
3.2 Introduction ........................................... 34
3.3 Materials and Methods .................................. 36
3.4 Results ................................................ 40
3.5 Discussion ............................................. 57
4 NKp80 defines and stimulates a reactive subset of CD8 T
cells ....................................................... 61
4.1 Abstract ............................................... 61
4.2 Introduction ........................................... 62
4.3 Methods ................................................ 63
4.4 Results ................................................ 68
4.5 Discussion ............................................. 82
5 NKp80 stimulates proliferation and effector function of
γδ T cells .................................................. 87
5.1 Abstract ............................................... 87
5.2 Introduction ........................................... 88
5.3 Materials and Methods .................................. 89
5.4 Results ................................................ 93
5.5 Discussion ............................................ 101
6 The expression of NKp80 and AICL in leukemia patients ...... 105
6.1 Abstract .............................................. 105
6.2 Introduction .......................................... 106
6.3 Materials and Methods ................................. 107
6.4 Results ............................................... 109
6.5 Discussion ............................................ 114
7 Summary .................................................... 117
A Bibliography ............................................ 121
B Tables .................................................. 155
C Acknowledgments ......................................... 163
D Publications ............................................ 165
E Academic Teachers ....................................... 167
F Curriculum Vitae ........................................ 169
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