IL13R?2 expression identifies tissue-resident IL-22-producing PLZF+ innate T cells in the human liver.

ABSTRACT: Innate lymphocytes are selectively enriched in the liver where they have important roles in liver immunology. Murine studies have shown that type I NKT cells can promote liver inflammation, whereas type II NKT cells have an anti-inflammatory role. In humans, type II NKT cells were found to accumulate in the gut during inflammation and IL13R?2 was proposed as a marker for these cells. In the human liver, less is known about type I and II NKT cells. Here, we studied the phenotype and function of human liver T cells expressing IL13R?2. We found that IL13R?2 was expressed by around 1% of liver-resident memory T cells but not on circulating T cells. In support of their innate-like T-cell character, the IL13R?2+ T cells had higher expression of promyelocytic leukaemia zinc finger (PLZF) compared to IL13R?2- T cells and possessed the capacity to produce IL-22. However, only a minority of human liver sulfatide-reactive type II NKT cells expressed IL13R?2. Collectively, these findings suggest that IL13R?2 identifies tissue-resident intrahepatic T cells with innate characteristics and the capacity to produce IL-22.

SUBMITTER: Paquin-Proulx D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6733416 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature