Identification and characterization of a hepatic IL-13-producing ILC3-like population potentially involved in liver fibrosis

Background and Aims: Human innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are critically involved in the modulation of homeostatic and inflammatory processes in various tissues. However, only little is known about the composition of the intrahepatic ILC pool and its potential role in chronic liver disease. Here, we performed a detailed characterization of intrahepatic ILCs in both healthy and fibrotic livers.Approach and Results: A total of 50 livers (nonfibrotic = 22, and fibrotic = 29) were analyzed and compared with colon and tonsil tissue (each N = 14) and peripheral blood (N = 32). Human intrahepatic ILCs were characterized ex vivo and on stimulation using flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing. ILC differentiation and plasticity were analyzed by both bulk and clonal expansion experiments. Finally, the effects of ILC-derived cytokines on primary human HSteCs were studied. Unexpectedly, we found that an unconventional ILC3like cell represented the major IL-13-producing liver ILC subset. IL-13(+) ILC3-like cells were specifically enriched in the human liver, and increased frequencies of this cell type were found in fibrotic livers. ILC3-derived IL-13 production induced upregulation of proinflammatory genes in HSteCs, indicating a potential role in the regulation of hepatic fibrogenesis. Finally, we identified KLRG1expressing ILC precursors as the potential progenitor of hepatic IL-13(+) ILC3like cells.Conclusions: We identified a formerly undescribed subset of IL-13-producing ILC3-like cells that is enriched in the human liver and may be involved in the modulation of chronic liver disease.

Automated summary

In this study, researchers performed a detailed characterization of intrahepatic innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in healthy and fibrotic livers, and identified a previously undescribed subset of ILC3-like cells that produce IL-13. These cells were enriched in human liver and increased in fibrotic livers. IL-13 production by ILC3 induced proinflammatory gene upregulation in hepatic stellate cells, suggesting a potential role in the modulation of chronic liver disease.