Physiological control of NKT cell-dependent hepatitis induction by extracellular adenosine

Extracellular adenosine regulates inflammatory responses via A2A adenosine receptor (A2AR). A2AR-deficiency results in much exaggerated acute hepatitis, indicating non-redundancy of adenosine-A2AR pathway in inhibitory mechanisms of immune activation. To identify a critical target of immunoregulatory effect of extracellular adenosine, we focused on NKT cells, which play an indispensable role in hepatitis. A2AR agonist abolished NKT cell-dependent induction of acute hepatitis by Con A or α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), corresponding to down-regulation of activation markers and cytokines in NKT cells and of NK cell co-activation. These results show that A2AR signaling can down-regulate NKT cell activation and suppress NKT cell-triggered inflammatory responses. Next, we hypothesized that NKT cells might be under physiological control of the adenosine-A2AR pathway. Indeed, both Con A and α-GalCer induced more severe hepatitis in A2AR−/− mice than in wild-type controls. Transfer of A2AR−/− NKT cells into A2AR-expressing recipients resulted in exaggeration of Con A-induced liver damage, suggesting that NKT cell activation is controlled by endogenous adenosine via A2AR, and this physiological regulatory mechanism of NKT cells is critical in the control of tissue-damaging inflammation. The current study suggests the possibility to manipulate NKT cell activity in inflammatory disorders through intervention to the adenosine-A2AR pathway.