AUTHOR=Haugstøyl Martha E. , Cornillet Martin , Strand Kristina , Stiglund Natalie , Sun Dan , Lawrence-Archer Laurence , Hjellestad Iren D. , Busch Christian , Mellgren Gunnar , Björkström Niklas K. , Fernø Johan 

TITLE=Phenotypic diversity of human adipose tissue-resident NK cells in obesity

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1130370

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2023.1130370

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>Natural killer (NK) cells have emerged as key mediators of obesity-related adipose tissue inflammation. However, the phenotype of NK cell subsets residing in human adipose tissue are poorly defined, preventing a detailed understanding of their role in metabolic disorders. In this study, we applied multicolor flow cytometry to characterize CD56<sup>bright</sup> and CD56<sup>dim</sup> NK cells in blood and adipose tissue depots in individuals with obesity and identified surface proteins enriched on adipose tissue-resident CD56<sup>bright</sup> NK cells. Particularly, we found that adipose tissue harbored clusters of tissue-resident CD56<sup>bright</sup> NK cells signatured by the expression of CD26, CCR5 and CD63, possibly reflecting an adaptation to the microenvironment. Together, our findings provide broad insights into the identity of NK cells in blood and adipose tissue in relation to obesity.</p>