Apoptotic Receptors and CD107a Expression by NK Cells in an Interaction Model with Trophoblast Cells.

Natural killer cells (NK cells) exert cytotoxicity towards target cells in several ways, including the expression of apoptosis-mediating ligands (TRAIL, FasL). In addition, NK cells themselves may be susceptible to apoptosis due to the expression of TRAIL receptors. These receptors include TRAIL-R1 (DR4), TRAIL-R2 (DR5), capable of inducing apoptosis, and TRAIL-R3 (DcR1), TRAIL-R4 (DcR2), the so-called "decoy receptors", which lack an intracellular domain initiating activation of caspases.