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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Apr 1.
Published in final edited form as: Hepatology. 2013 Apr;57(4):1654–1662. doi: 10.1002/hep.26115

Figure 2. The regulation and functions of liver NK cells. Top panel: The regulation of NK cells.

Figure 2

The left side of the top panel illustrates that activated Kupffer cells (KCs), dendritic cells (DCs), and NKT cells can induce NK cell activation via the production of a variety of cytokines. Several cytokines that activate NK cells are also listed. The right side of the top panel illustrates that T regulatory cells and activated HSCs can inhibit NK cell functions via the production of several cytokines. TGF-β is a potent inhibitor of NK cell functions. Bottom panel: The functions of NK cells in the liver. Activated NK cells target hepatocytes, HSCs, and cholangiocytes and perform a variety of important functions in the pathogenesis of liver disease.

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