Figure 2.
Process of NK cell licensing. Shown is the process of NK cell licensing based on research by Kim et al.10 If a NK cell possesses an inhibitory receptor capable of binding to self-MHC-I, it becomes a licensed, fully functional NK cell that can be inhibited. However, if it does not possess an inhibitory receptor capable of binding to self, it is unlicensed, hyporesponsive, and thus does not need inhibition.
