Phenotypic and Functional Plasticity of CXCR6⁺ Peripheral Blood NK Cells.

ABSTRACT: Human NK cells are comprised of phenotypic subsets, whose potentially unique functions remain largely unexplored. C-X-C-motif-chemokine-receptor-6 (CXCR6) ⁺ NK cells have been identified as phenotypically immature tissue-resident NK cells in mice and humans. A small fraction of peripheral blood (PB)-NK cells also expresses CXCR6. However, prior reports about their phenotypic and functional plasticity are conflicting. In this study, we isolated, expanded, and phenotypically and functionally evaluated CXCR6⁺ and CXCR6^- PB-NK cells, and contrasted results to bulk liver and spleen NK cells. We found that CXCR6⁺ and CXCR6^- PB-NK cells preserved their distinct phenotypic profiles throughout 14 days of in vitro expansion ("day 1

SUBMITTER: Angelo LS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8841448 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature