title: Th2-type innate immune responses mediated by natural helper cells.
abstract: Natural helper (NH) cells are a newly identified innate lymphocyte population that responds to a combination of interleukin (IL)-2 and either IL-25 or IL-33 to produce large amounts of T helper cell type 2 (Th2) cytokines. NH cells have been identified in fat-associated lymphoid clusters (FALCs), produce Th2 cytokines constitutively without any stimulation, and support the self-renewal of B1 cells and IgA production by B cells. Large amounts of IL-5 and IL-13 produced upon helminth infection or in response to IL-33 can induce eosinophilia and goblet cell hyperplasia in the lung and intestine; these cytokines, which activate NH cells, play important roles in antihelminth immunity and allergic diseases such as asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. koyasu@z3.keio.jp
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koyasu
authors.forename: Kazuyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D051379:Mice; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical