CXCR3(+)CD56Bright NK cells have strong anti-fibrotic potential.

<p><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0038846#pone-0038846-g002" target="_blank">Figure 2A:</a> Purified peripheral NK cells from healthy individuals (n = 14) were co-incubated with primary human hepatic stellate cells (E:T ratio 1∶1) and then analyzed with respect to degranulation (CD107a) and expression of CXCR3 by flowcytometry. <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0038846#pone-0038846-g002" target="_blank">Figure 2B</a> depicts NK cell degranulation following co-incubation with HSC at different effector : target (E:T) ratios as indicated (n = 5). <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0038846#pone-0038846-g002" target="_blank">Figure 2C</a> shows CD107a expression of the four studied NK cell sub-populations obtained from healthy donors (n = 14) following co-incubation with primary hepatic stellate cells (E:T ratio 1∶1). <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0038846#pone-0038846-g002" target="_blank">Figure 2D</a> illustrates IFN-γ production of purified CXCR3(+) and CXCR3(−) NK cells obtained from HCV(-) individuals (n = 14) after co-culturing with primary HSC (E:T ratio 1∶1). <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0038846#pone-0038846-g002" target="_blank">Figure 2E</a> shows IFN-γ production of purified NK cells following co-incubation with hepatic stellate cells at different E:T ratios (n = 4). <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0038846#pone-0038846-g002" target="_blank">Figure 2F</a> displays IFN-γ production of the four studied NK cell sub-populations isolated from healthy donors (n = 14) following co-incubation with primary hepatic stellate cells (E:T ratio 1∶1).