Intrahepatic and peripheral blood phenotypes of natural killer and T cells: differential surface expression of killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors. Issue 2 (16th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Podhorzer, Ariel; Machicote, Andrés; Belén, Santiago; Lauferman, Leandro; Imventarza, Oscar; Montal, Silvina; Marciano, Sebastián; Galdame, Omar; Podesta, Luis G.; Fainboim, Leonardo
• Is Part Of: Immunology. Volume 154:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 261
• Page End: 273
• Publication Date: 2018-01-16
• Subjects: liver -- natural killer -- natural killer T and T cells; Immunology -- Periodicals
• DOI: 10.1111/imm.12880
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0019-2805

Abstract

Summary: Deep characterization of the frequencies, phenotypes and functionalities of liver and peripheral blood natural killer (NK), natural killer T (NKT) and T cells from healthy individuals is an essential step to further interpret changes in liver diseases. These data indicate that CCR7, a chemokine essential for cell migration through lymphoid organs, is almost absent in liver NK and T cells. CD56 bright NK cells, which represent half of liver NK cells, showed lower expression of the inhibitory molecule NKG2A and an increased frequency of the activation marker NKp44. By contrast, a decrease of CD16 expression with a potential decreased capacity to perform antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity was the main difference between liver and peripheral blood CD56 dim NK cells. Liver T cells with an effector memory or terminally differentiated phenotype showed an increased frequency of MAIT cells, T‐cell receptor‐ γδ (TCR‐ γδ ) T cells and TCR‐ αβ CD8 + cells, with few naive T cells. Most liver NK and T cells expressed the homing markers CD161 and CD244. Liver T cells revealed a unique expression pattern of killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIR) receptors, with increased degranulation ability and higher secretion of interferon‐ γ . Hence, the liver possesses a large amount of memory and terminally differentiated CD8 + cells with a unique expression pattern of KIR activating receptors that have a potent functional capacity as well as a reduced amount of CCR7, which are unable to migrate to regional lymph nodes. These results are consistent with previous studies showing that liver T (and also NK) cells likely remain and die in the liver. Abstract : Characterization of differences between liver and peripheral blood natural killer (NK), NKT and T cells from healthy individuals is an essential step to further interpret changes in liver diseases. We detected that CCR7, a chemokine essential for cell migration through lymphoid organs, is almost absent in liver NK and T cells. In addition liver T cells possess a large amount of memory and terminally differentiated CD8 + cells, a unique expression pattern of killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptor activating receptors with increased degranulation ability and a decreased expression of CD16 with a potential decreased capacity to perform antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity.