A Murine Intestinal Intraepithelial NKp46-Negative Innate Lymphoid Cell Population Characterized by Group 1 Properties

Publication date: 16 May 2017
Source:Cell Reports, Volume 19, Issue 7
Author(s): Aline Van Acker, Konrad Gronke, Aindrila Biswas, Liesbet Martens, Yvan Saeys, Jessica Filtjens, Sylvie Taveirne, Els Van Ammel, Tessa Kerre, Patrick Matthys, Tom Taghon, Bart Vandekerckhove, Jean Plum, Ildiko Rita Dunay, Andreas Diefenbach, Georges Leclercq
The Ly49E receptor is preferentially expressed on murine innate-like lymphocytes, such as epidermal Vγ3 T cells, intestinal intraepithelial CD8αα⁺ T lymphocytes, and CD49a⁺ liver natural killer (NK) cells. As the latter have recently been shown to be distinct from conventional NK cells and have innate lymphoid cell type 1 (ILC1) properties, we investigated Ly49E expression on intestinal ILC populations. Here, we show that Ly49E expression is very low on known ILC populations, but it can be used to define a previously unrecognized intraepithelial innate lymphoid population. This Ly49E-positive population is negative for NKp46 and CD8αα, expresses CD49a and CD103, and requires T-bet expression and IL-15 signaling for differentiation and/or survival. Transcriptome analysis reveals a group 1 ILC gene profile, different from NK cells, iCD8α cells, and intraepithelial ILC1. Importantly, NKp46⁻CD8αα⁻Ly49E⁺ cells produce interferon (IFN)-γ, suggesting that this previously unrecognized population may contribute to Th1-mediated immunity.

Graphical abstract

Teaser

Van Acker et al. define an intestinal intraepithelial innate lymphoid cell population that is dependent on T-bet and IL-15 and displays a group 1 ILC gene profile uniquely different from NK cells, iCD8α cells, and previously described ILC1 cells. Upon stimulation, these cells produce the Th1-related cytokine IFN-γ.


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