Innate lymphoid cells: emerging insights in development, lineage relationships, and function.
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are immune cells that lack a specific antigen receptor yet can produce an array of effector cytokines that in variety match that of T helper cell subsets. ILCs function in lymphoid organogenesis, tissue remodeling, antimicrobial immunity, and inflammation, particularly at barrier surfaces. Their ability to promptly respond to insults inflicted by stress-causing microbes strongly suggests that ILCs are critical in first-line immunological defenses. Here, we review current data on developmental requirements, lineage relationships, and effector functions of two families of ILCs: (a) Rorγt-expressing cells involved in lymphoid tissue formation, mucosal immunity, and inflammation and (b) type 2 ILCs that are important for helminth immunity. We also discuss the potential roles of ILCs in the pathology of immune-mediated inflammatory and infectious diseases including allergy.
Tytgat Institute of Liver and Intestinal Research of the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands. hergen.spits@amc.uva.nl
Hergen
H
Spits
Tom
T
Cupedo
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D019070:Cell Lineage; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / Q000378:metabolism
D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3