killer activatory receptor

initialism: KAR
synonym: killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.13360
Receptor found on natural killer (NK) cells, and some $\ce{\upgamma\!{:}\updelta\!}$ and $\ce{\upalpha\!{:}\upbeta\! T cells}$.
Notes:
  1. KARs recognize major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules and, like the C-type lectin receptors also found in these cells, can either inhibit or activate the killer cells. If immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM) sequences are present in their cytoplasmic domain they are inhibitory.
  2. Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) lacking ITIMs can associate with immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM)-containing adaptor molecules in which case they can activate the killer cell.
Source:
PAC, 2012, 84, 1113. (IUPAC glossary of terms used in immunotoxicology (IUPAC Recommendations 2012)) on page 1198 [Terms] [Paper]