The B7 family member B7-H6 is a tumor cell ligand for the activating natural killer cell receptor NKp30 in humans

Cancer development is often associated with the lack of specific and efficient recognition of tumor cells by the immune system. Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune system that participate in the elimination of tumors. We report the identification of a tumor cell surface molecule that binds NKp30, a human receptor which triggers antitumor NK cell cytotoxicity and cytokine secretion. This previously unannotated gene belongs to the B7 family and, hence, was designated B7-H6. B7-H6 triggers NKp30-mediated activation of human NK cells. B7-H6 was not detected in normal human tissues but was expressed on human tumor cells, emphasizing that the expression of stress-induced self-molecules associated with cell transformation serves as a mode of cell recognition in innate immunity

New results from the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search experiment

Using improved Ge and Si detectors, better neutron shielding, and increased counting time, the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS) experiment has obtained stricter limits on the cross section of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) elastically scattering from nuclei. Increased discrimination against electromagnetic backgrounds and reduction of the neutron flux confirm WIMP-candidate events previously detected by CDMS were consistent with neutrons and give limits on spin-independent WIMP interactions which are \u3e2× lower than previous CDMS results for high WIMP mass, and which exclude new parameter space for WIMPs with mass between 8 and 20 GeV/c2

Identification of INSL5, a New Member of the Insulin Superfamily

this paper, we increase the membership of the vertebrate insulin gene superfamily by the cloning of a new insulin or relaxin-like hormone. Insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5; named ZINS3 in the patent application of Conklin et al., 1998) matches the classical signature of the insulin gene superfamil