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Brownlie D, Scharenberg M, Mold JE, Hård J, Kekäläinen E, Buggert M, Nguyen S, Wilson JN, Al-Ameri M, Ljunggren HG, Marquardt N, Michaëlsson J
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 118 (11) e2016580118 [2021-03-16; online 2021-04-11]
Human adaptive-like "memory" CD56dimCD16+ natural killer (NK) cells in peripheral blood from cytomegalovirus-seropositive individuals have been extensively investigated in recent years and are currently explored as a treatment strategy for hematological cancers. However, treatment of solid tumors remains limited due to insufficient NK cell tumor infiltration, and it is unknown whether large expansions of adaptive-like NK cells that are equipped for tissue residency and tumor homing exist in peripheral tissues. Here, we show that human lung and blood contains adaptive-like CD56brightCD16- NK cells with hallmarks of tissue residency, including expression of CD49a. Expansions of adaptive-like lung tissue-resident NK (trNK) cells were found to be present independently of adaptive-like CD56dimCD16+ NK cells and to be hyperresponsive toward target cells. Together, our data demonstrate that phenotypically, functionally, and developmentally distinct subsets of adaptive-like NK cells exist in human lung and blood. Given their tissue-related character and hyperresponsiveness, human lung adaptive-like trNK cells might represent a suitable alternative for therapies targeting solid tumors.
NGI Stockholm (Genomics Applications)
NGI Stockholm (Genomics Production)
National Genomics Infrastructure
PubMed 33836578
DOI 10.1073/pnas.2016580118
Crossref 10.1073/pnas.2016580118
pii: 2016580118
pmc: PMC7980282