CD11c identifies a subset of murine liver natural killer cells that responds to adenoviral hepatitis.
The liver contains a unique repertoire of immune cells and a particular abundance of NK cells. We have found that CD11c defines a distinct subset of NK cells (NK1.1(+)CD3(-)) in the murine liver whose function was currently unknown. In naïve animals, CD11c(+) liver NK cells displayed an activated phenotype and possessed enhanced effector functions when compared with CD11c(-) liver NK cells. During the innate response to adenovirus infection, CD11c(+) NK cells were the more common IFN-gamma-producing NK cells in the liver, demonstrated enhanced lytic capability, and gained a modest degree of APC function. The mechanism of IFN-gamma production in vivo depended on TLR9 ligation as well as IL-12 and -18. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that CD11c(+) NK cells are a unique subset of NK cells in the murine liver that contribute to the defense against adenoviral hepatitis.
Burt
Bryan M
BM
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Plitas
George
G
Stableford
Jennifer A
JA
Nguyen
Hoang M
HM
Bamboat
Zubin M
ZM
Pillarisetty
Venu G
VG
DeMatteo
Ronald P
RP
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000257:Adenoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D039521:CD11c Antigen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006524:Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology*; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9 / Q000502:physiology
D039521:CD11c Antigen; D020382:Interleukin-18; C495370:Tlr9 protein, mouse; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma