The expression of NKG2D ligands on tumor cells makes this receptor a critical player in cancer immunosurveillance. NK cells and CD8+ T cells can recognize and eliminate tumor cells that express these ligands. However, some tumors develop mechanisms to evade NKG2D-mediated recognition, such as shedding soluble forms of NKG2D ligands, which can downregulate the expression of NKG2D on immune cells and impair their cytotoxic function.
