Unique transcriptional and protein-expression signature in human lung tissue-resident NK cells.

ABSTRACT: Human lung tissue-resident NK cells (trNK cells) are likely to play an important role in host responses towards viral infections, inflammatory conditions and cancer. However, detailed insights into these cells are still largely lacking. Here we show, using RNA sequencing and flow cytometry-based analyses, that subsets of human lung CD69⁺CD16^- NK cells display hallmarks of tissue-residency, including high expression of CD49a, CD103, and ZNF683, and reduced expression of SELL, S1PR5, and KLF2/3. CD49a⁺CD16^- NK cells are functionally competent, and produce IFN-γ, TNF, MIP-1β, and GM-CSF. After stimulation with IL-15, they upregulate perforin, granzyme B, and Ki67 to a similar degree as CD49a^-CD16^- NK cells. Comparing datasets f

SUBMITTER: Marquardt N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6710242 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature