Gene Regulatory Programs of NK Cells Show That NCAM1 (CD56) and KIRs Are Controlled by Genetically Polymorphic Distal Regulatory Elements.

ABSTRACT: Owing to their immunoprotective properties, natural killer (NK) cells are critical for the innate immune response to pathogens, as well as a new wave of cancer immunotherapy that harnesses natural cytotoxicity. We sought to study the genetic and epigenetic drivers behind human-specific NK cell receptors, so that we can better understand the underlying cellular function. Here, we present a transcriptomic, proteomic (CITE-seq), and chromatin (single nuclei ATAC-seq) profiling of human peripheral NK cell subsets, which was then compared with genomic databases. Through integrative multi-omics, we demonstrate that CD56^bright versus CD56^dim NK cell subsets have differential distal regulatory element (DRE) landscapes, with fewer accessible DREs in the CD56^dim NK c

SUBMITTER: Salem MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12869470 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature