Critical roles of co‐activation receptor <scp>DNAX</scp> accessory molecule‐1 in natural killer cell immunity

<jats:title>Summary</jats:title><jats:p>Natural killer (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">NK</jats:styled-content>) cells, which can exert early and powerful anti‐tumour and anti‐viral responses, are important components of the innate immune system. <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">DNAX</jats:styled-content> accessory molecule‐1 (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">DNAM</jats:styled-content>‐1) is an activating receptor molecule expressed on the surface of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">NK</jats:styled-content> cells. Recent findings suggest that <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">DNAM</jats:styled-content>‐1 is a critical regulator of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">NK</jats:styled-content> cell biology. <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">DNAM</jats:styled-content>‐1 is involved in <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">NK</jats:styled-content> cell education and differentiation, and also plays a pivotal role in the development of cancer, viral infections and immune‐related diseases. However, tumours and viruses have developed multiple mechanisms to evade the immune system. They are able to impair <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">DNAM</jats:styled-content>‐1 activity by targeting the <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">DNAM</jats:styled-content>‐1 receptor–ligand system. We have reviewed the roles of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">DNAM</jats:styled-content>‐1, and its biological functions, with respect to <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">NK</jats:styled-content> cell biology and <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">DNAM</jats:styled-content>‐1 chimeric antigen receptor‐based immunotherapy.</jats:p>