Natural Killer T Cells in Various Mouse Models of Hepatitis

Figure 2

Con A-stimulated NKT cell activation and activated NKT cells secrete IL-4 to promote Fas/FasL-mediated hepatocyte death in an autocrine manner. MIP-2 and IL-5 induce hepatic neutrophil infiltration, and IFN-γ and TNF-α synergistically kill hepatocytes. Activated NKT cells can also secrete OPN. The thrombin-cleaved form of OPN in turn augments NKT cell activation and FasL expression and secretion of MIP-2 to enhance liver damage. NKT cell-secreted IFN-γ and T cell-secreted IL-2 further trigger the activation of NK cells. Activated NK cells cosecrete OPN and IFN-γ to help NKT cells exert a proinflammatory effect. Figure created with BioRender (https://biorender.com). Abbreviations: Con A: concanavalin A; (+): activate; NK: natural killer cell; NKT: natural killer T cell; IL: interleukin; OPN: osteopontin; IFN-γ: interferon-gamma; MIP-2: macrophage inflammatory protein-2; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-alpha; FasL: Fas ligand.