CD8+ T Lymphocyte and NK Cell Network: Circuitry in the Cytotoxic Domain of Immunity

T lymphocytes (CTL) interact to elicit specific cytolytic outcomes. The CTL carry antigen-specific T cell receptors (TCR) to recognize cognate peptides bound with major histocompatibility complex class-I (MHC-I) or human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules on target cells. Upon TCR engagement with MHC-I:peptide at a threshold of avidity, T cell intracellular programs converge into cytolytic activity. By contrast, NK cells lack antigen-specific receptors but express a repertoire of highly polymorphic and polygenic inhibitory and activating receptors that bind various ligands including MHC and like molecules. A highly calibrated maturation enables NK cells to eliminate target cells with lowered or absent MHC-I or induced MHC-I-related molecules while maintaining their tolerance toward self-MHC. Both CTL and mature NK cells undergo membranous reorganization and express various effector molecules to eliminate aberrant cells undergoing a stress of transformation, infection or other pathological noxa. Here, we present the cellular modules that underlie the CTL-NK circuitry to maximize their effector cooperativity against stressed or cancerous cells.