The human liver microenvironment shapes the homing and function of CD4 T-cell populations.

OBJECTIVE

Tissue-resident memory T cells (T) are vital immune sentinels that provide protective immunity. While hepatic CD8 T have been well described, little is known about the location, phenotype and function of CD4 T.

DESIGN

We used multiparametric flow cytometry, histological assessment and novel human tissue coculture systems to interrogate the ex vivo phenotype, function and generation of the intrahepatic CD4 T-cell compartment. We also used leukocytes isolated from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-disparate liver allografts to assess long-term retention.

RESULTS

Hepatic CD4 T cells were delineated into three distinct populations based on CD69 expression: CD69, CD69 and CD69. CD69CD4 cells were identified as tissue-resident CD4 T cells on the basis of their exclusion from the circulation, phenotypical profile (CXCR6CD49aS1PR1PD-1) and long-term persistence within the pool of donor-derived leukcoocytes in HLA-disparate liver allografts. CD69CD4 T cells produced robust type 1 polyfunctional cytokine responses on stimulation. Conversely, CD69CD4 T cells represented a more heterogenous population containing cells with a more activated phenotype, a distinct chemokine receptor profile (CXCR1CXCR3CXCR1) and a bias towards interleukin-4 production. While CD69CD4 T cells could be found in the circulation and lymph nodes, these cells also formed part of the long-term resident pool, persisting in HLA-mismatched allografts. Notably, frequencies of CD69CD4 T cells correlated with necroinflammatory scores in chronic hepatitis B infection. Finally, we demonstrated that interaction with hepatic epithelia was sufficient to generate CD69CD4 T cells, while additional signals from the liver microenvironment were required to generate liver-resident CD69CD4 T cells.

CONCLUSIONS

High and intermediate CD69 expressions mark human hepatic CD4 T and a novel functionally distinct recirculating population, respectively, both shaped by the liver microenvironment to achieve diverse immunosurveillance.