Independent modes of natural killing distinguished in mice lacking Lag3.

The LAG3 protein has several features in common with CD4, suggesting that it may be important in controlling T cell reactivity. However, mice with a Lag3 null mutation have now been shown to exhibit a defect in the natural killer cell, rather than the T cell, compartment. Killing of certain tumor targets by natural killer cells from these mice was inhibited or even abolished, whereas lysis of cells displaying major histocompatibility complex class I disparities remained intact. It appears that LAG3 is a receptor or coreceptor that defines different modes of natural killing.