MICa/b-dependent activation of natural killer cells by CD64⁺ inflammatory type 2 dendritic cells contributes to autoimmunity.

ABSTRACT: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder largely mediated by type I and II interferon (IFN). The potential contribution of innate immune cells, such as natural killer (NK) cells and dendritic cells (DC), to the pSS pathology remains understudied. Here, we identified an enriched CD16⁺ CD56hi NK cell subset associated with higher cytotoxic function, as well as elevated proportions of inflammatory CD64⁺ conventional dendritic cell (cDC2) subtype that expresses increased levels of MICa/b, the ligand for the activating receptor NKG2D, in pSS individuals. Circulating cDC2 from pSS patients efficiently induced activation of cytotoxic NK cells ex vivo and were found in proximity to CD56⁺ NK cells in salivary glands (SG) from pSS patie

SUBMITTER: Sanchez-Cerrillo I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10690448 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature