Tissue-resident NK cells do their own glandscaping

J Exp Med. 2025 Mar 3;222(3):e20242253. doi: 10.1084/jem.20242253. Epub 2025 Jan 3.

Abstract

In this issue of JEM, Sparano et al. (https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20240930) present compelling evidence that salivary gland trNK cells originate from cNK cells and are developmentally distinct from ILC1 cells. Mechanistically, they demonstrate that continuous autocrine TGF-β signaling drives salivary gland tissue residency and works in synergy with IL-15 to enhance Hobit-dependent cytotoxicity.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-15* / immunology
  • Interleukin-15* / metabolism
  • Killer Cells, Natural* / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural* / metabolism
  • Salivary Glands* / immunology
  • Salivary Glands* / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta* / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-15
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta