KIR+CD8+ and NKG2A+CD8+ T cells are distinct innate-like populations in humans
Seong Jin Choi, June‐Young Koh, Min‐Seok Rha, In‐Ho Seo, Hoyoung Lee, Seongju Jeong, Su‐Hyung Park, Eui‐Cheol Shin
Abstract
Subsets of the human CD8 + T cell population express inhibitory NK cell receptors, such as killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) and NKG2A. In the present study, we examine the phenotypic and functional characteristics of KIR + CD8 + T cells and NKG2A + CD8 + T cells. KIRs and NKG2A tend to be expressed by human CD8 + T cells in a mutually exclusive manner. In addition, TCR clonotypes of KIR + CD8 + T cells barely overlap with those of NKG2A + CD8 + T cells, and KIR + CD8 + T cells are more terminally differentiated and replicative senescent than NKG2A + CD8 + T cells. Among cytokine receptors, IL12Rβ1, IL12Rβ2, and IL18Rβ are highly expressed by NKG2A + CD8 + T cells, whereas IL2Rβ is expressed by KIR + CD8 + T cells. IL-12/IL-18-induced production of IFN-γ is prominent in NKG2A + CD8 + T cells, whereas IL-15-induced NK-like cytotoxicity is prominent in KIR + CD8 + T cells. These findings suggest that KIR + CD8 + and NKG2A + CD8 + T cells are distinct innate-like populations with different cytokine responsiveness.