Fig. 5: Butyrate indirectly enhances LrNK function through acting on Kupffer cells and hepatocytes through GPR109A. | Nature Communications

Fig. 5: Butyrate indirectly enhances LrNK function through acting on Kupffer cells and hepatocytes through GPR109A.

From: Early life gut microbiota sustains liver-resident natural killer cells maturation via the butyrate-IL-18 axis

Fig. 5

a, b Experimental scheme and FACS analysis of IFN-γ and CD107a expression in transferred LrNK cells from control or early-Abx mice (CD45.2) after injection of poly(I:C) (n = 6 per group). c, d Experimental scheme and FACS analysis of IFN-γ and CD107a expression in LrNK cells (CD45.2) transferred into control or early-Abx mice (CD45.1) after injection of poly(I:C) (n = 6 per group). e Representative FACS plots and bar graph for the expression (MFI) of IFN-γ and TNF-α in LrNK cells were shown in DDW or butyrate. (n = 6 per group). f Representative FACS plots and bar graph for the expression (MFI) of IFN-γ in LrNK cells in different groups were shown (n = 6 per group). g RT-qPCR analysis for GPR41, GPR43 and GPR109A expression level in LMNCs or hepatocytes (n = 6 per group). h Purified LrNK cells from C57BL/6 mice were co-cultured with hepatocytes infected with GPR109A shRNA lentivirus (Lv-shGPR109A), treated with DDW or butyrate. Representative FACS plots and bar graph for the expression (MFI) of IFN-γ and CD107a in LrNK cells were shown (n = 6 per group). i RT-qPCR analysis of GPR109A expression level in different immune cell subsets in liver (n = 6 per group). j Representative FACS plots and bar graph for the expression (MFI) of IFN-γ and CD107a in LrNK cells were shown co-cultured with Kupffer cells (n = 5 per group). k Purified LrNK cells from C57BL/6 mice were co-cultured with Kupffer cells infected with GPR109A shRNA lentivirus (Lv-shGPR109A), treated with DDW or butyrate. Representative FACS plots and bar graph for the expression (MFI) of IFN-γ and CD107a in LrNK cells were shown (n = 6 per group). Dots represent data from individual mice, and error bars represent SEM per group in one experiment. Data were analyzed using two-tailed Student’s t test (b, d, e, h, j, k) or one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test (f). *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001; ns, no significance. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.

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