Lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) cells are required for lymph node formation during fetal development, and recent evidence implies a role in mucosal immunity in the adult. LTi cells share some phenotypic features of conventional natural killer (NK; cNK) cells; however, little is known to date about the relationship between these two cell types. We show that lineage- (Lin-) CD127+RORC+ LTi-like cells in human tonsil are precursors to CD56+CD127+RORC+NKp46+ cells, which together comprise a stable RORC+ lineage. We find that LTi-like cells and their CD56+ progeny can be expanded and cloned ex vivo without loss of function and without conversion into cNK cells. Clonal analysis reveals heterogeneity of cytokine production within the CD127+ LTi-like population. Furthermore, we identify within the tonsil a cNK precursor population that is characterized as Lin-CD117+CD161 +CD127- cells. Overall, we propose that CD127 +RORC+ cells, although they share some characteristics with cNK cells, represent a functionally and developmentally distinct lineage.

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doi.org/10.1084/jem.20091509, hdl.handle.net/1765/19956
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Crellin, N., Trifari, S., Kaplan, C., Cupedo, T., & Spits, H. (2010). Human NKp44+IL-22+ cells and LTi-like cells constitute a stable RORC+ lineage distinct from conventional natural killer cells. The Journal of Experimental Medicine, 207(2), 281–290. doi:10.1084/jem.20091509