Background
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CD161, also known as NKR-P1, is a receptor originally identified on the surface of natural killer cells that is also present on some subpopulations of CD8+T cells. CD161 is often used as an NK cell marker since it is present on both immature and mature NK cells. CD161 appears to mediate NK cell activation and is up-regulated by IL-12. CD161 is expressed as a disulfide homodimer of ~60 kDa while the ligand for CD161 appears to be a carbohydrate structure that includes GalNAc and GlcNAc structures. CD161+ T cells are commonly found in human liver and intestinal epithelium where they may play a role in local immunity.Synonyms: C-type lectin domain family 5 member B, CLEC5B, HNKR-P1a, Killer cell lectin-like receptor subfamily B member 1, NKRP1A, Natural killer cell surface protein P1A
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