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. 2015 Dec 7;13(3):328–336. doi: 10.1038/cmi.2015.96

Liver natural killer cells: subsets and roles in liver immunity

Hui Peng 1,2, Eddie Wisse 3, Zhigang Tian 1,2
PMCID: PMC4856807  PMID: 26639736

Abstract

The liver represents a frontline immune organ that is constantly exposed to a variety of gut-derived antigens as a result of its unique location and blood supply. With a predominant role in innate immunity, the liver is enriched with various innate immune cells, among which natural killer (NK) cells play important roles in host defense and in maintaining immune balance. Hepatic NK cells were first described as ‘pit cells' in the rat liver in the 1970s. Recent studies of NK cells in mouse and human livers have shown that two distinct NK cell subsets, liver-resident NK cells and conventional NK (cNK) cells, are present in this organ. Here, we review liver NK cell subsets in different species, revisiting rat hepatic pit cells and highlighting recent progress related to resident NK cells in mouse and human livers, and also discuss the dual roles of NK cells in liver immunity.

Keywords: conventional NK cell, liver, liver-resident NK cell, pit cell, tolerance

Introduction

The liver is an essential and complex organ that fulfills a wide range of functions to maintain the body's homeostasis. The liver is well known for its central role in many metabolic processes, including bile production, protein synthesis, fat metabolism, and glucose homeostasis. In recent years, accumulating studies have highlighted the importance of the liver in immune function.1,2 Because the liver is continually exposed to a large number of antigens derived from the gastrointestinal tract,3,4 the local immune system must constantly provide secure mechanisms to eliminate pathogens and toxins and to maintain tolerance to harmless dietary antigens. Excessive or otherwise inappropriate immune responses can lead to autoimmune liver diseases or chronic infections.5

As a component of the innate immune system, natural killer (NK) cells serve as a crucial first line of defense against invading tumor cells by mediating cytotoxicity and producing cytokines.6,7 Increasing evidence of cross talk between NK cells and other immune cells has implicated that NK cells also play an important role in shaping the adaptive immune response.8,9 NK cells are derived primarily from the bone marrow and are widely distributed throughout the body in both lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues.10,11 Recent studies have shown that NK cells in different tissues exhibit distinct phenotypic and functional characteristics,12,13 suggestive of a complex interplay between NK cell subset composition and the tissue environment.

The liver is considered a unique immunological organ with a predominantly innate immunity role, as it contains an unusually large number of innate immune cells and is particularly enriched with NK cells.14 Moreover, it has been reported for years that hepatic NK cells differ from peripheral NK cells in terms of surface marker expression, cytokine profiles, and cytotoxic potential.15 More recently, a unique NK cell subset, termed ‘liver-resident NK cells,' was characterized in both mouse and human livers.16,17 In addition, in rat liver, subsets of NK cells were defined (see later). The relative abundance and unique features of hepatic NK cells have profound implications for the important function of these cells in this organ. Over the last decade, accumulating evidence has suggested the involvement of NK cells in the pathogenesis of liver diseases.18,19 Here, we highlight recent advances related to liver NK cell subsets and also review our current knowledge of NK cell functions in acute and chronic liver diseases.

Anatomical and Immunological Features of the Liver

The liver is the largest internal organ and lies under the diaphragm in the upper right quadrant of the abdominal cavity. Notably, the liver has a dual blood supply, with approximately 80% of its blood supplied from the gastrointestinal tract via the portal vein and the remaining 20%, which is rich in oxygen, supplied from the hepatic artery.20 The portal veins and hepatic arteries terminate and branch together in the intrahepatic portal tract, and the blood leaves the liver parenchyma via the central hepatic veins after passing through an anastomosing network of sinusoids.21 The diameter of the hepatic sinusoids is narrow (5–7 μm),22 and the blood pressure is much lower than in the systemic circulation, resulting in a relatively slow flow in the liver sinusoids. This reduced blood flow slows the passage of gut-derived antigens, facilitating the clearance of harmful substances by liver-resident cells and maximizing the interaction between circulating lymphocytes and the hepatic sinusoidal endothelium.20

The liver is composed of different cell types with distinct functions. Hepatocytes, which are the liver parenchymal cells, account for approximately two-thirds of the total cell population.2 Hepatocytes communicate with the blood plasma and its constituents through open fenestrae with diameters on the order of 105 nm (human liver) to 140 nm (murine liver).23 Non-parenchymal cells are located primarily in the sinusoidal compartment of the tissue, including sinusoidal endothelial cells,24 Kupffer cells,25 lymphocytes, and myeloid cells.26 Hepatocytes are separated from the endothelial cells by the space of Disse, which contains hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and extracellular matrix proteins.21 Interestingly, among the non-parenchymal cells, there are several cell populations endowed with antigen-presenting potential, which contributes to immunological tolerance under non-inflammatory conditions.27 For example, antigen-specific interactions with CD8+ T cells increase the expression of the co-inhibitory B7-H1 molecule on liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, which can induce CD8+ T cell tolerance via interaction with programmed cell death protein 1 expressed on CD8+ T cells.28

As a lymphoid organ, the liver also contains a diverse population of innate lymphocytes, such as NK cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells, and γδ T cells, and adaptive lymphocytes, such as αβT cells and B cells. In particular, intrahepatic lymphocytes have a unique subset composition, with a notable enrichment in innate immune cells. In humans, up to 65% of all hepatic lymphocytes consist of NK cells, NKT cells, and γδ T cells29; these cell populations can proliferate under certain experimental or pathological conditions. The dominating presence of these populations in the liver and in early defense against pathogens places these cells in a key position among effector lymphocytes in liver immune surveillance.

What is an NK Cell?

NK cells were first identified in the 1970s based on their natural ability to kill tumor cells in the absence of prior stimulation.30,31 Beyond their role as cytolytic effector lymphocytes, NK cells are also considered major producers of certain cytokines, such as IFN-γ, through which NK cells can contribute to shaping the adaptive immune response.9,32 Although NK cells have been classified as innate immune cells due to their lack of antigen-specific receptors, several lines of evidence have revealed that NK cells can mediate antigen-specific immunological memory, challenging the conventional distinction between innate and adaptive immunity.33

NK cell effector functions are controlled by a variety of cell surface activating and inhibitory receptors. The activating receptors expressed by NK cells primarily include the natural cytotoxicity receptors (NKp46, NKp44, and NKp30), CD16, and C-type lectin receptors (CD94/NKG2C, NKG2D, NKG2E/H, and NKG2F).6 Some activating receptor ligands, e.g., NKG2D ligands (the human UL16-binding protein and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related molecules and the mouse RAE1, H60, and MULT1 molecules), are inducible in conditions of cellular stress, rendering the stressed cell susceptible to lysis by NK cells.34 NK cells are equipped with an array of MHC class I-specific inhibitory receptors, including the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors in humans, the lectin-like Ly49 dimers in mice and the lectin-like CD94-NKG2A heterodimers in both species.35 In general, healthy cells constitutively express MHC class I, which binds to NK cell inhibitory receptors, allowing the cell to avoid NK cell attack. However, cells may downregulate MHC class I expression in response to stress (‘missing-self'), such as viral infection or cellular transformation, and can then be attacked by NK cells because activating signals dominate over inhibitory signals.36

NK cells are derived primarily from the bone marrow, in which NK cells develop in a stepwise manner in association with the progressive acquisition and/or downregulation of a series of markers and functional maturation.10,37 However, several lines of evidence have indicated the presence of hematopoietic progenitors and immature NK cells at extramedullary sites,16,38 as well as NK cell diversity in distinct tissues.39 For example, NK cells can originate in the thymus and differ from bone marrow-derived NK cells by expressing more GATA-3 and CD127 (interleukin 7Rα, IL-7Rα) and requiring IL-7 signals for their development,40 suggesting that NK cell development may take place at extramedullary sites, where local environmental signals can affect this process and result in the development of distinct NK cell subsets.41

Liver NK Cell Subsets

The discovery of a new cell type in a well-studied organ such as the liver is a thrilling experience. This event occurred during a microscopic study of rat liver, after perfusing the portal vein with a buffered and isotonic glutaraldehyde solution.42 By applying this technique, ‘pit cells,' which are now known to be the NK cells of rat liver, were discovered the year after the initial identification of NK cells; this report was the first morphological (electron microscopic, EM) description of liver NK cells. Although most previous studies of NK cells focused on mouse splenic and human peripheral blood NK cells, which are circulating and referred to as conventional NK (cNK) cells,43 with the recent boom of organ-specific NK cells, our knowledge of liver NK cell biology has been greatly expanded.

Pit cells: the NK cells of rat liver

Within this context, the pit cell presented itself.42 We found this cell to be different from the visiting blood cells that are typically seen in a healthy rat liver sinusoid, i.e., granulocytes (polymorphonuclear, eosinophils, and basophils), lymphocytes, monocytes, and occasional plasma cells. However, the relatively frequent occurrence of these unknown cells in the normal rat liver prompted us to determine whether we were dealing with a new type of resident cell. To make a discussion possible, we needed a name, and we applied the name ‘pit cell,' which was inspired by the presence of a number of small granules, as is the case with the little seeds in grapes for which the Dutch word ‘pit' is used.

Pit cells have a diameter between those of lymphocytes and granulocytes. Similar to Kupffer cells, the shape of pit cells is irregular and variable (Figure 1). Pit cells are attached to the endothelial lining, which they might penetrate with little microvilli ‘shaking hands' with the microvilli of parenchymal cells, as if they are anchoring or securing their position. Pit cells are not located in the space of Disse. These cells are often neighbors of Kupffer cells and even make contact with Kupffer cells, suggesting some type of physical relationship. Most remarkable are the numerous, characteristic granules (Ø 0.3 μm) that lie together in one part of the cytoplasm (Figure 2). These granules are round and have an electron-dense content with an even darker characteristic dense core. This content is surrounded by an electron-lucent halo and a single membrane. The other part of the cytoplasm is hyaloplasmic or contains only a few small organelles, such as single strands of rough endoplasmic reticulum, a small Golgi apparatus, free ribosomes, and few small mitochondria. Kaneda et al.44 described an additional type of granule for pit cells: the so-called ‘rod cored vesicle.' These granules are smaller, less frequent, and electron-lucent with a central rod, and they are not comparable to the typical pit cell granules. We also found pit cells with fewer and larger granules in the peripheral blood and the spleen. It was easy to find pit cells in the livers of other species (dogs, mice, and hamsters), except for human liver. Unlike Kupffer cells, pit cells do not possess a phagocytic or endocytic function. Pit cells were unreactive in many experimental conditions, except for partial hepatectomy, in which we found pit cell mitosis in the remaining part of the liver.42

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Pit cell in a normal rat liver (Wistar). Organelles are situated on one side of the central nucleus. The other side of the cell is composed of hyaloplasm without organelles. The pit cell makes contact with sinusoidal endothelial cells, and microvilli sometimes protrude into the space of Disse (top left). Pit cells possess characteristic electron-dense granules, in addition to a small number of mitochondria, RER cisternae, and a Golgi apparatus. The pit cell in this figure measures approximately 8 μm in length.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Part of the cytoplasm of a rat liver pit cell at higher magnification, showing the typical structure of the granules. Other organelles in this picture are rod-cored vesicles (smaller than the dense granules and without dense content), mitochondria, a Golgi apparatus, and free ribosomes. A microvesicular body is situated above the Golgi apparatus. The pit cell makes contact with the fenestrated sinusoidal endothelial lining that covers the microvilli of the parenchymal cells, together forming the space of Disse. Original magnification, approximately ×10 000.

The first possible function of pit cells was suggested by Kaneda et al.,44 who noted that pit cells show some morphological similarity to large granular lymphocytes (LGLs). LGLs are known for their larger than lymphocyte size and their azurophilic granules. After isolating LGLs from the peripheral blood of rats, the capacity of these cells to spontaneously kill YAC-1 tumor cells was demonstrated.

To further analyze the functional characteristics of pit cells, a good method for the isolation and purification of these cells from rat liver was needed. A simple and effective method of sinusoidal lavage was developed by Bouwens et al.45 The authors were able to wash pit cells out of the liver by flushing the portal vein at a water pressure of 50 cm (physiological saline) without the use of enzymes. These cells were found to be highly cytotoxic against YAC4 lymphoma tumor cells, and this reaction could be blocked by an antibody against NK cells (anti-asialo GM1). In these preparations, it was demonstrated that the specific granules of the cells were acid phosphatase-positive, indicating that they are lysosomes. The cells could be further purified and enriched by applying a low-density (LD) Percoll gradient.

Cells of the reticuloendothelial system, such as Kupffer cells, can be functionally activated and increased in number by biological response modifiers, including zymosan, Propionobacterium acnes and OK-432. Indeed, the application of these substances increases the number of Kupffer cells considerably; however, pit cells were increased even more (sixfold) by the same stimuli. Irradiation and metaphase arrest demonstrated that the increased number of pit cells was the result of local, hepatic proliferation.46 IL-2 had an even stronger effect on pit cell proliferation.47 In addition, the parallels between the reactions of Kupffer cells and pit cells are obvious. When Kupffer cells were eliminated from the liver by treatment with dichloromethylene diphosphonate, the number of pit cells was also reduced. In vitro, pit cells showed signs of activation after the addition of Kupffer cell-conditioned medium.48 Therefore, Kupffer cell and pit cell numbers and functions seem to rise and fall together.

The presence of pit cells inside and outside rat liver stimulated further studies of the possible relationships between these cells. Pit cells that were isolated via sinusoidal lavage were separated into LD and high-density (HD) fractions using a 45% Percoll gradient. When these cells were compared with blood LGLs, within the order LGL> HD> LD, the LD pit cells were eight times more cytotoxic than blood NK cells against a number of different tumor cell lines.49 Based on these and other data, it may be concluded that peripheral blood LGLs are able to take up residence in the liver as HD pit cells and subsequently develop into LD pit cells with increased tumoricidal potential, possibly under the influence of Kupffer cells.49

Rat liver pit cells can be immunostained with the monoclonal antibody 3.2.3. Using this staining technique, it was possible to quantify the number of pit cells in liver frozen sections as 13.7 ± 1.1/mm2.50 The lobular distribution of pit cells in the liver was found to be predominantly (∼60%) periportal. Again, this distribution coincides with the location of Kupffer cells.

When syngeneic CC531 colon carcinoma cells are killed, the cytotoxicity of rat liver pit cells seems to be based on the induction of apoptosis via the perforin/granzyme pathway rather than the Fas pathway (Figure 3).51

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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One hour after the injection of colon carcinoma cells (CC531) into syngeneic Wagrain rats, a pit cell (left) and a Kupffer cell (lower right) were found attached to a tumor cell (center). Pit cells kill these tumor cells in vitro by secreting perforin and granzyme, causing the apoptosis of the tumor cells. Note that the pit cell granules are assembled at the side facing the tumor cell. The pit cell has not degranulated. It is thought that this secretion triggers membrane changes in the tumor cells, which are recognized by the Kupffer cell and initiate the phagocytic reaction. The first stage in phagocytosis is determined by the attachment of the effector cell to the target cell, which is clearly depicted here. The combination of apoptotic induction (by the pit cell) and phagocytosis (by the Kupffer cell) will kill this tumor cell. The single red blood cell in the sinusoid measures approximately 7 μm.

In recent years, the author (E. W.) had the opportunity to investigate more than 200 wedge and needle biopsies of human livers using fixation methods adapted to obtain perfusion fixation quality tissue.52,53 After observing these specimens, the author concluded that no cells with rat pit cell morphology are present in the human liver. Very occasionally, a cell with a few granules could be found, but an EM comparison of rat and human livers led to the conclusion that human liver does not harbor a morphological equivalent of the rat pit cell.

Liver-resident NK cells

In mice, liver NK cells are present at significantly higher frequencies than NK cells in the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and spleen, accounting for approximately 5–10% of the total lymphocytes present in this tissue.54,55 More than 10 years ago, Kim et al. unexpectedly observed the presence of a high frequency of phenotypically immature NK cells in the murine liver;37 these cells express low amounts of DX5, Mac-1, and Ly49 receptors, which are the markers associated with NK cell maturation.37,56 Subsequently, the phenotype and function of liver NK cells were further studied in detail15; the phenotypically immature NK cells in the liver have been reported to express high levels of the effector molecule TRAIL, with cytotoxicity against tumor cells. TRAIL+ NK cells predominate in fetal and neonatal mice and persist in the liver, but not the spleen, until adulthood.15 Over that period, these unique hepatic NK cells were still considered to be an intermediate stage during the development of mature cNK cells.

Recently, we found that the mutually exclusive expression of CD49a and DX5 can distinctively divide mouse liver NK cells into two subsets, CD49a–DX5+ and CD49a+DX5–,16 and substantial differences exist between these two subsets (Figure 4). In contrast to the CD49a–DX5+ subset, CD49a+DX5– NK cells are rarely found in the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and spleen. Of particular interest, CD49a+DX5– NK cells selectively reside in the liver sinusoid blood, but are not present in the afferent and efferent blood of the liver. Parabiosis studies further confirmed that the cells of the CD49a+DX5– subset rarely circulate or emigrate from the liver, whereas CD49a–DX5+ cells are highly migratory under homeostatic conditions.16 For these reasons, the hepatic CD49a+DX5– subset is termed ‘liver-resident NK cells,' whereas the CD49a–DX5+ subset represents cNK cells. More recently, it was found that the CD49a+DX5– phenotype can also be used to identify tissue-resident NK cells in the uterus and skin.39 Liver-resident NK cells are more efficient in secreting a broad pattern of cytokines and chemokines, including interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), ganulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3, in comparison to cNK cells, which primarily produce IFN-γ.39,57 These two NK cell subsets express a distinct repertoire of cytotoxic effector molecules, and, compared with cNK cells, liver-resident NK cells degranulate poorly in response to certain cell lines, as measured by surface CD107a.16,39 Further studies are warranted to compare the cytotoxicity of these two NK cell subsets in detail.

Figure 4.

Figure 4

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The adult liver contains two NK cell subsets, cNK cells, and tissue-resident NK cells, the latter of which can develop from liver hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Although liver-resident NK cells resemble immature cNK cells in phenotype, adoptive transfer studies showed that these cells preferentially home to the liver and do not convert to DX5+ cNK cells, suggesting that liver-resident NK cells are stable under steady-state circumstances and may develop separately from cNK cells.16 Further support for this notion came from the observation that liver-resident NK cells and cNK cells have different transcription factor requirements for their development. For example, liver-resident NK cells are Eomes negative, and their development is strictly dependent on T-bet but not on Eomes54,57; conversely, cNK cells are present in T-bet-deficient mice and express high levels of Eomes, which is essential for their development.54 Additionally, PLZF+ or Id2+ progenitors have been shown to have the potential to develop into liver-resident NK cells and other innate lymphoid cells, but not cNK cells. This finding indicates the existence of two alternative pathways for the development of liver-resident NK cells and cNK cells. Additionally, liver-resident NK cells are distinct from thymic NK cells, as they develop independent of the thymus or GATA-3.39 Regarding the origin of liver-resident NK cells, our studies show that hematopoietic progenitor cells residing in the adult liver can give rise to liver-resident NK cells,16 raising the possibility that an intrahepatic developmental pathway may exist for liver-resident NK cells.

Several findings suggested that NK cells can mediate memory-like responses after specific activation by chemical haptens58,59,60 or viruses59,61,62 or non-specific activation by cytokines.63 In particular, in a hapten-induced contact hypersensitivity (CHS) model, antigen-specific memory NK cells were found to reside in the livers of hapten-sensitized mice rather than in the spleen; these findings prompted us to investigate whether liver-resident NK cells contributed to hapten-specific CHS responses.16 Using the adoptive transfer of hepatic NK cell subsets from hapten-sensitized mice into naive mice, our study revealed that liver-resident NK cells appeared to mediate a recall response in recipients after challenge with the same hapten, whereas cNK cells failed to mediate such a response.

In humans, the liver also contains a unique CD49a+ NK cell subset that resembles murine liver-resident NK cells.17 Similar to their counterparts in the mouse liver, human CD49a+ NK cells are T-bet+Eomes– and are not detectable in afferent or efferent hepatic venous or peripheral blood. Moreover, these cells produce high levels of proinflammatory cytokines but degranulate poorly in comparison to human CD49a– cNK cells. Therefore, CD49a expression can also be used to characterize human liver-resident NK cells.

Liver NK Cells in Hepatic Immunity and Tolerance

The liver has long been recognized as an immune-tolerant organ, as liver allografts are less likely to be rejected than other transplanted organs.64 Moreover, liver allografts lead to donor-specific tolerance that can further facilitate the acceptance of other donor-originated organs, such as heart or kidney allografts, without the need for immunosuppressive agents.65 In addition, hepatic tolerance also refers to the fact that the liver is tolerant to a large number of dietary and commensal antigens under homeostatic conditions. The tolerogenic properties and special anatomy of the liver predispose this organ to pathogen invasion and sustain persistent infection. Indeed, several common pathogens, such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), selectively target the liver and establish chronic infections.66 Various types of hepatic cells are involved in the maintenance of immunotolerance, and NK cells appear to play a dual role in this process.

Given their ability to secrete proinflammatory cytokines and mediate cytotoxicity, it is not surprising that NK cells can induce liver immunity toward an immunogenic status. It has been reported that polyinosinic/polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), which is a synthetic viral RNA mimic, induces NK cell activation and accumulation in the liver, leading to mild hepatitis.67 In a murine fulminant hepatitis model established by the injection of poly I:C and D-galactosamine, the interaction between liver NK cells and Kupffer cells via NKG2D-Rae1 recognition induces the production of IFN-γ and TNF-α and results in severe liver injury.68 Murine hepatitis virus-induced NK cell activation also plays a critical role in the development of hepatocyte necrosis and fulminant hepatic failure.69

NK cells promote hepatic tolerance. It has been reported that NK cells can inhibit dendritic cell (DC) activation by producing the suppressive factors transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and IL-10 in an NKG2A-dependent manner. The resulting tolerogenic DCs further induce the expansion of regulatory T cells, contributing to the induction of an immunotolerant state during HCV infection.70,71 Accumulating evidence demonstrated that NK cell function is compromised during chronic hepatic infection, which consequently contributes to pathogen persistence. For instance, NK cells from HBV patients or HBV carrier mice exhibit increased levels of NKG2A, which are responsible for reduced NK cell cytotoxicity and viral persistence.72 Additionally, chronic HBV infection induces high levels of soluble TGF-β1, which in turn reduce the expression of the activating receptors NKG2D and 2B4 on NK cells and impair their effector functions.73 In a steady-state situation, the mouse liver contains a population of functionally hyporesponsive NK cells that express NKG2A and lack Ly49 receptor expression. The enrichment of these cells in the liver is partially attributed to the high levels of IL-10 that are present within this organ.74 Therefore, the immunosuppressive environment plays a role in shaping liver NK cells, through which hepatic tolerance can be further consolidated.

NK cells also play important roles in other liver diseases, such as liver fibrosis and liver regeneration.75,76 The anti-fibrotic effect of NK cells, which is accomplished by the killing of activated HSCs, was first observed in experimental mouse models in 2006,77,78 and similar findings were subsequently obtained in patients.79,80,81 Clinical studies demonstrated that activated HSCs induce NK cell degranulation/activation, which in turn promotes hepatic stallete cell apoptosis in a TRAIL-, FasL-, and NKG2D-dependent manner.81 A recent study found that NK cell activity against HSCs is inhibited by CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) from either healthy controls or HCV patients,82 suggesting that the anti-fibrotic activity of NK cells can be modified by crosstalk with other immune cells.

The liver has the unique ability to regenerate after tissue damage, and several lines of evidence have indicated that NK cells play a role in liver regeneration. Suppressing NK cell activity using the immunosuppressive drug FK506 or depleting NK cells using anti-asialo GM1 treatment promotes liver regeneration,83,84 whereas the poly I:C- or viral infection-induced activation of NK cells negatively regulates liver regeneration in an IFN-γ-dependent manner.84 Recently, the co-inhibitory receptor T cell Ig and ITIM domain was found to maintain NK cell tolerance by inhibiting the activation and IFN-γ production of these cells, which ultimately protects liver regeneration.85

Concluding Remarks

In recent years, it has been increasingly appreciated that the liver functions as an important innate immune organ. The unique anatomy and blood supply of this organ serve as an interface between the host and the external environment. Accumulating evidence demonstrated that NK cells constitute an abundant subfraction of hepatic lymphocytes that play important roles in host defense and immune balance in the liver. With the expansion of our knowledge of NK cell biology during the last few years, the unique characteristics of distinct subsets of liver NK cells have gradually been brought to light.

In summary, liver NK cells were first described as pit cells, which are easily characterized based on EM morphology in rat liver. These cells possess numerous characteristic granules, normal organelles, and rod-cored vesicles. Pit cells bear their granules on one side of the nucleus and attach to the sinusoidal endothelial lining. The cells often sit next to and make contact with Kupffer cells. Their numbers and activity levels increase and decrease together with the number and activity of Kupffer cells. This observation appears to indicate that a symbiosis or synergism exists between these two cell types. Pit cells have a high spontaneous cytotoxicity against a variety of tumor cells, which they kill using the perforin/granzyme pathway. In vivo, pit cells and Kupffer cells cooperate, with Kupffer cells phagocytosing tumor cells attacked by pit cells. Recently, liver-resident NK cells were characterized in both mice and humans. These cells are distinct from cNK cells in terms of phenotype, function, and development, but their relationship with pit cells awaits further study. Moreover, many studies of NK cells in liver diseases used bulk liver NK cells from rodents or human peripheral blood NK cells. Further studies using organ-specific NK cell subsets are needed to improve our understanding of the roles of liver-resident NK cells and cNK cells in liver function.

Competing Financial Interests

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science & Technology of China (973 Basic Science Project #2013CB944902), the Natural Science Foundation of China (#81361120388, #31300727, and #81571522), and the Key Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KJZD-EW-L10 -003).

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