NK Cytotoxic Activation
Gene co-expression module in Natural Killer cells
| Category | Cytotoxicity |
|---|---|
| Genes | 12 |
| Annotation certainty | 4 of 5 |
| Annotation consistency | 8 of 12 genes have a known function matching the annotation |
Why this annotation
Hub genes define NK cell activation and cytotoxic signaling: CD247 (CD3ζ chain, part of NK activating receptor complexes), LAT2 (linker for activation of T/NK cells), HCLS1 (hematopoietic cell-specific Lyn substrate, actin scaffold for immune signaling), ABI3 (Abl interactor 3, WAVE complex for actin at immune synapse), RHOC and ARHGDIB (Rho GTPase regulators of NK polarization), ALOX5AP (5-lipoxygenase activating protein, leukotriene synthesis in NK cells), and GZMA (granzyme A, cytotoxic effector). This module captures the NK cell activation signaling cascade coupled to cytotoxic effector function. Upregulated in CD inflammation and reduced with treatment, consistent with active cytotoxic NK cells in inflamed CD intestine. Neighbors M29 (actin remodeling) and M28 (gut homing/maturation) support a coordinated mature cytotoxic NK program.
Genes
ABI3, ALOX5AP, ARHGDIB, BPGM, CD247, GNPTAB, GZMA, HCLS1, LAT2, NMUR1, OSTF1, RHOC
Most correlated modules
- Resident NK cells · correlation 0.76
- Actin Cytoskeleton Remodeling · correlation 0.68
- NK Cell Activation · correlation 0.62
- Gut-Homing NK Maturation · correlation 0.60
- NK TGF-β Regulation · correlation 0.54
- NK Checkpoint Receptors · correlation 0.53
- Resident NK program · correlation 0.53
- Tissue-Resident NK · correlation 0.52
Module annotations were drafted by a large language model from the module's genes, then reviewed and approved by a domain expert. See sources & licences.