Involvement of natural killer cells in PolyI:C-induced liver injury

Background/Aims The roles of T cells, natural killer T cells (NKT) and macrophages in autoimmune hepatitis have been well documented. However, the roles of natural killer (NK) cells in liver injury remain obscure. Here we examined the effect of Polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (PolyI:C)-activated NK cells on liver injury. Methods Mice were intraperitoneally injected with PolyI:C at a dose of 20 μg/g body wt. The percentage and absolute number of NK cells in the liver were analyzed with flow cytometry. Serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) assay and H–E staining were used to evaluate the liver injury. Results Following PolyI:C injection, NK cells accumulation and activation occurred in the liver. Meanwhile, slight elevation of ALT/AST in the serum, mild inflammation and focal necrosis in the liver were also observed. Depletion of NK cells markedly attenuated PolyI:C-induced liver injury. Neutralization of endogenous Interleukin-12 produced by Kupffer cells abrogated the accumulation of NK cells in the liver and subsequent liver injury. The liver injury was also alleviated by neutralization of vascular cell adhesive molecule-1. Conclusions These findings suggest that PolyI:C preferentially recruits and activates hepatic NK cells, which may be responsible for the mild hepatitis.