Activation-associated markers that were significantly upregulated in CD49a+ NK cells included CD68, LYZ, NFAM1, DOK3, CD300E, TREM1, IFNGR2, CD40, CXCL16, TNFRS10D, and SLC7A7. This implies that CD49a+ NK cells represent an activated and primed NK cell subset in PBC. Here, CXCL16 is linked to primary biliary cholangitis.