Immune activating receptor involved in self-nonself discrimination. In complex with KLRD1 on cytotoxic lymphocyte subsets, recognizes non-classical major histocompatibility (MHC) class Ib HLA-E loaded with signal sequence-derived peptides from non-classical MHC class Ib HLA-G molecules, likely playing a role in the generation and effector functions of adaptive natural killer (NK) cells and in maternal-fetal tolerance during pregnancy ( ). Regulates the effector functions of terminally differentiated cytotoxic lymphocyte subsets, and in particular may play a role in adaptive NK cell response to viral infection (, ). Upon HLA-E-peptide binding, transmits intracellular signals via the adapter protein TYROBP/DAP12, triggering the phosphorylation of proximal signaling molecules and cell activation (, ).
Subcellular locations: Cell membrane
Expressed in NK cell subsets, in particular in adaptive CD57-positive NK cells (at protein level) (, ). Expressed in terminally differentiated cytotoxic gamma-delta T cells (at protein level) . Expressed in alpha-beta T cells subsets (at protein level) . KLRD1-KLRC1 and KLRD1-KLRC2 are differentially expressed within NK and T cell populations, with only minor subsets expressing both receptor complexes (at protein level) .