Because we suspected a role for NK cells in the T2D phenotype, we next focused on specific NK cell receptors (Table 2): NKG2D, NKG2C, NKp30, NKp44, NKp46 - all of which are activating receptors, and NKG2A and Killer cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIRs) - which include inhibitory receptors [13]. This evidence concerns the gene KIR3DL2 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.