Liver natural killer cells: subsets and roles in liver immunity

Hui Peng; Eddie Wisse; Zhigang Tian

doi:10.1038/cmi.2015.96

Liver natural killer cells: subsets and roles in liver immunity

Hui Peng, Eddie Wisse^*, Zhigang Tian^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › (Systematic) Review article › peer-review

Abstract

The liver represents a frontline immune organ that is constantly exposed to a variety of gut-derived antigens as a result of its unique location and blood supply. With a predominant role in innate immunity, the liver is enriched with various innate immune cells, among which natural killer (NK) cells play important roles in host defense and in maintaining immune balance. Hepatic NK cells were first described as 'pit cells' in the rat liver in the 1970s. Recent studies of NK cells in mouse and human livers have shown that two distinct NK cell subsets, liver-resident NK cells and conventional NK (cNK) cells, are present in this organ. Here, we review liver NK cell subsets in different species, revisiting rat hepatic pit cells and highlighting recent progress related to resident NK cells in mouse and human livers, and also discuss the dual roles of NK cells in liver immunity.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	328-336
Journal	Cellular & Molecular Immunology
Volume	13
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2015.96
Publication status	Published - May 2016

Keywords

conventional NK cell
liver
liver-resident NK cell
pit cell
tolerance

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10.1038/cmi.2015.96Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

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title = "Liver natural killer cells: subsets and roles in liver immunity",

abstract = "The liver represents a frontline immune organ that is constantly exposed to a variety of gut-derived antigens as a result of its unique location and blood supply. With a predominant role in innate immunity, the liver is enriched with various innate immune cells, among which natural killer (NK) cells play important roles in host defense and in maintaining immune balance. Hepatic NK cells were first described as 'pit cells' in the rat liver in the 1970s. Recent studies of NK cells in mouse and human livers have shown that two distinct NK cell subsets, liver-resident NK cells and conventional NK (cNK) cells, are present in this organ. Here, we review liver NK cell subsets in different species, revisiting rat hepatic pit cells and highlighting recent progress related to resident NK cells in mouse and human livers, and also discuss the dual roles of NK cells in liver immunity.",

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AU - Wisse, Eddie

AU - Tian, Zhigang

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AB - The liver represents a frontline immune organ that is constantly exposed to a variety of gut-derived antigens as a result of its unique location and blood supply. With a predominant role in innate immunity, the liver is enriched with various innate immune cells, among which natural killer (NK) cells play important roles in host defense and in maintaining immune balance. Hepatic NK cells were first described as 'pit cells' in the rat liver in the 1970s. Recent studies of NK cells in mouse and human livers have shown that two distinct NK cell subsets, liver-resident NK cells and conventional NK (cNK) cells, are present in this organ. Here, we review liver NK cell subsets in different species, revisiting rat hepatic pit cells and highlighting recent progress related to resident NK cells in mouse and human livers, and also discuss the dual roles of NK cells in liver immunity.

KW - conventional NK cell

KW - liver

KW - liver-resident NK cell

KW - pit cell

KW - tolerance

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DO - 10.1038/cmi.2015.96

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