Abstract
NK cells are critical in immune responses against pathogens. However, their role in autoimmunity is still controversial. In this study, we demonstrate that neonatal NK cells render newborns more susceptible to neonatal autoimmunity induced by maternal autoantibodies (neonatal autoimmune ovarian disease); thus, neonatal but not adult NK cells are pathogenic after transfer into NK cell-deficient pups. The inhibitory receptors Ly49C/I are expressed in ∼5% of neonatal and ∼50% of adult NK cells. In this study, we show that the presence of Ly49C/I⁺ adult NK cells inhibits neonatal autoimmune ovarian disease induction. Thus, the ontogenetic regulation of Ly49C/I expression determines the propensity to autoantibody-induced autoimmunity. In summary, this study provides definitive evidence of a pathogenic role of NK cells in neonatal autoimmunity and also elucidates a novel mechanism by which neonatal NK cells render newborns more susceptible to autoantibody-induced autoimmunity.