Functional Requirements for Signaling through the Stimulatory and Inhibitory Mouse NKR-P1 (CD161) NK Cell Receptors

The NK cell receptor protein 1 (NKR-P1) (CD161) molecules represent a family of type II transmembrane C-type lectin-like receptors expressed predominantly by NK cells. Despite sharing a common NK1.1 epitope, the mouse NKR-P1B and NKR-P1C receptors possess opposing functions in NK cell signaling. Engagement of NKR-P1C stimulates cytotoxicity of target cells, Ca2+ flux, phosphatidylinositol turnover, kinase activity, and cytokine production. In contrast, NKR-P1B engagement inhibits NK cell cytotoxicity. Nonetheless, it remains unclear how different signaling outcomes are mediated at the molecular level. Here, we demonstrate that both NKR-P1B and NKR-P1C associate with the tyrosine kinase, p56(lck). The interaction is mediated through the di-cysteine CxCP motif in the cytoplasmic domains of NKR-P1B/C. Disrupting this motif leads to abrogation of both stimulatory and inhibitory NKR-P1 signals. In addition, mutation of the consensus ITIM (LxYxxL) in NKR-P1B abolishes both its Src homology 2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-1 recruitment and inhibitory function. Strikingly, engagement of NKR-P1C on NK cells obtained from Lck-deficient mice failed to induce NK cytotoxicity. These results reveal a role for Lck in the initiation of NKR-P1 signals, and demonstrate a requirement for the ITIM in NKR-P1-mediated inhibition.