{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]],"date-time":"2026-05-04T23:01:11Z","timestamp":1777935671858,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,24]],"date-time":"2025-08-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1755993600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100004410","name":"T\u00dcB\u0130TAK","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["118S397"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["118S397"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100004410","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100004410","name":"T\u00dcB\u0130TAK","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["220S638"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["220S638"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100004410","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Return Fellowship"},{"name":"Multiple Sclerosis International Federation Du Pr\u00e9"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>While CD20 was initially characterized as a B cell\u2013specific marker, its expression on memory T cells has expanded our understanding of this molecule\u2019s distribution and function. Here, we identify a previously unrecognized CD20-expressing NK cell population and demonstrate its functional significance. CD56+CD20+ NK cells exhibit hallmarks of cellular activation, including elevated NKp46, CD69, and CD137 expression, enhanced proliferative capacity, and increased production of inflammatory cytokines (IFN-\u03b3, GM-CSF, TNF-\u03b1, IL-10). Functional analyses revealed enhanced cytotoxicity against K562 targets, correlating with increased expression of cytolytic mediators including granzymes A, B, and K, perforin, FASL, and TRAIL. Single-cell transcriptional profiling demonstrated that MS4A1-expressing NK cells possess a distinct molecular signature characterized by elevated granzyme K expression and memory-like features. These cells preferentially localize to secondary lymphoid organs and accumulate in inflammatory tissues. Notably, CD56+CD20+ NK cells are enriched in multiple inflammatory conditions, including multiple sclerosis, autoimmune hepatitis, hepatitis B infection, hepatocellular carcinoma, and lung cancer. Treatment with rituximab depletes this population, suggesting potential therapeutic implications. Our findings establish CD20+ NK cells as a functionally distinct lymphocyte subset with enhanced effector capabilities and tissue-homing properties, providing new insights into immune regulation in inflammatory diseases.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1093\/jimmun\/vkaf205","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,24]],"date-time":"2025-08-24T15:57:18Z","timestamp":1756051038000},"page":"2585-2599","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["CD20+ natural killer cells are polyfunctional, memory-like cells that are enriched in inflammatory disorders"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"214","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8760-1439","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"\u00d6zg\u00fcr","family":"Albayrak","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Ko\u00e7 University Research Center for Translational Medicine, Ko\u00e7 University , Istanbul, 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Diseases , Istanbul, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"I\u015f\u0131l","family":"Baytekin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Neurology Department, Bakirkoy Prof. Dr Mazhar Osman Education and Research Hospital for Psychiatric and Neurological Diseases , Istanbul, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"\u00d6nder Kemal","family":"Soylu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Neurology Department, Bakirkoy Prof. Dr Mazhar Osman Education and Research Hospital for Psychiatric and Neurological Diseases , Istanbul, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"G\u00fcne\u015f","family":"Esenda\u011fl\u0131","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Basic Oncology, Hacettepe University Cancer Institute , Ankara, Turkiye"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ingrid","family":"Meinl","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit\u00e4t M\u00fcnchen , Munich,","place":["Germany"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mesrure","family":"K\u00f6seo\u011flu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Neurology Department, Bakirkoy Prof. Dr Mazhar Osman Education and Research Hospital for Psychiatric and Neurological Diseases , Istanbul, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Burcu","family":"Y\u00fcksel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Neurology Department, Bakirkoy Prof. Dr Mazhar Osman Education and Research Hospital for Psychiatric and Neurological Diseases , Istanbul, 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