A novel subset of inflammation-related liver NK cells modulates immune responses in a murine model of primary biliary cholangitis.

Abstract

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune liver disease marked by bile duct inflammation, with immune dysregulation playing a central role in its pathogenesis. Here, we identify a novel subset of inflammation-related natural killer (irNK) cells, characterized by CD49aCXCR6, which accumulate in the livers of both PBC mouse models and patients. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA sequencing reveal that irNK cells form a distinct cluster with a unique gene expression profile, clearly distinguishing them from conventional NK (cNK) cells and type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s). We show that irNK cells arise from cNK cells in response to IL-15 stimulation and acquire liver-resident characteristics, including reduced circulation, confirming their tissue-resident identity. Functionally, irNK cells promote CD4T cell proliferation through TNF-α secretion, which we identify as the key mediator of immune dysregulation in the PBC murine model (ARE-Delmice; ARE). These findings highlight the pivotal role of irNK cells in modulating immune responses in PBC and suggest that targeting these cells could offer new therapeutic opportunities for autoimmune liver diseases.