title: Tissue-specific effector functions of innate lymphoid cells.
abstract: Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) is the collective term for a group of related innate lymphocytes, including natural killer (NK) cells and the more recently discovered non-NK ILCs, which all lack rearranged antigen receptors such as those expressed by T and B cells. Similar to NK cells, the newly discovered ILCs depend on the transcription factor Id2 and the common γ-chain of the interleukin-2 receptor for development. However, in contrast to NK cells, non-NK ILCs also require interleukin-7. In addition to the cytotoxic functions of NK cells, assuring protection against tumour development and viruses, new data indicate that ILCs contribute to a wide range of homeostatic and pathophysiological conditions in various organs via specialized cytokine production capabilities. Here we summarize current knowledge on ILCs with a particular emphasis on their tissue-specific effector functions, in the gut, liver, lungs and uterus. When possible, we try to highlight the role that these cells play in humans.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Niklas K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Björkström
authors.forename: Eliisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kekäläinen
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mjösberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014599:Uterus / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine
keywords: effector functions; innate lymphoid cells; natural killer cells; tissue immunology