SLAM family receptors are important for the fine-tuning of immune reactions. Their expression is restricted to cells of hematopoietic origin and most SLAM family receptors are their own ligand. Here we review how these receptors are involved in regulating the functions of Natural Killer (NK) cells. We discuss that promoting cellular adhesion may be a main function of SLAM family receptors in NK cells. The homophilic interactions of SLAM family receptors can not only occur in trans between different cells, but also in cis on the surface of the same cell. This cis interaction additionally modulates the function of the receptors and subsequently affects the activities of NK cells. Finally, SLAM-family receptors can also mediate inhibitory signals under certain conditions. These inhibitory signals can contribute to the functional maturation of NK cells during NK cell education. Therefore, SLAM family receptors are critically involved in many aspects of NK cell functionality.

SLAM家族受体对于免疫反应的微调很重要。它们的表达仅限于造血细胞，大多数SLAM家族受体是它们自己的配体。在这里，我们审查这些受体如何参与调节自然杀手（NK）细胞的功能。我们讨论了促进细胞粘附可能是NK细胞中SLAM家族受体的主要功能。SLAM家族受体的同源相互作用不仅可以在不同细胞之间以反式发生，而且可以在同一细胞表面上以顺式发生。这个顺式相互作用还调节受体的功能，并随后影响NK细胞的活性。最后，SLAM家族受体还可以在某些条件下介导抑制信号。这些抑制信号可以在NK细胞培养过程中促进NK细胞的功能成熟。因此，SLAM家族受体至关重要地参与了NK细胞功能的许多方面。