The crosstalk between NK cells and their surrounding environment is enabled through activating and inhibitory receptors, which tightly control NK cell activity. The co-inhibitory receptor TIGIT decreases NK cell cytotoxicity and is involved in NK cell exhaustion, but has also been associated with liver regeneration, highlighting that the contribution of human intrahepatic CD56^bright NK cells in regulating tissue homeostasis remains incompletely understood. A targeted single-cell mRNA analysis revealed distinct transcriptional differences between matched human peripheral blood and intrahepatic CD56^bright NK cells. Multiparameter flow cytometry identified a cluster of intrahepatic NK cells with overlapping high expression of CD56, CD69, CXCR6, TIGIT and CD96. Intrahepatic CD56^bright NK cells also expressed significantly higher protein surface levels of TIGIT, and significantly lower levels of DNAM-1 compared to matched peripheral blood CD56^bright NK cells. TIGIT⁺ CD56^bright NK cells showed diminished degranulation and TNF-α production following stimulation. Co-incubation of peripheral blood CD56^bright NK cells with human hepatoma cells or primary human hepatocyte organoids resulted in migration of NK cells into hepatocyte organoids and upregulation of TIGIT and downregulation of DNAM-1 expression, in line with the phenotype of intrahepatic CD56^bright NK cells. Intrahepatic CD56^bright NK cells represent a transcriptionally, phenotypically, and functionally distinct population of NK cells that expresses higher levels of TIGIT and lower levels of DNAM-1 than matched peripheral blood CD56^bright NK cells. Increased expression of inhibitory receptors by NK cells within the liver environment can contribute to tissue homeostasis and reduction of liver inflammation.

Luisa M. Müller

Publications