Immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif-bearing receptors regulate the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif-induced activation of immune competent cells

ITIM-bearing receptors, a family which only recently has been recognized, p lay a key role in the regulation of the ITAM-induced activation of immune c ompetent cells. The mechanism of ITM-mediated regulation in various cells w as recently clarified. The present review focuses on ITIM bearing membrane proteins that negatively regulate the activation of cells when co-crosslink ed with ITAM containing receptors, illustrates the inhibitory processes by the negative regulation of B-, NK-, T-cells and mast cells and summarizes c urrent views on the mechanism of ITIM-mediated inhibition. (C) 1999 Elsevie r Science B.V. All rights reserved.