title: Innate lymphoid cells: the new kids on the block.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is to review recent advances in our understanding of innate lymphoid cell function and to speculate on how these cells may become activated and influence the immune response to allogeneic tissues and cells following transplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Innate lymphoid cells encompass several novel cell types whose wide-ranging roles in the immune system are only now being uncovered. Through cytokine production, cross-talk with both haematopoietic and nonhaematopoietic populations and antigen presentation to T cells, these cells have been shown to be key regulators in maintaining tissue integrity, as well as initiating and then sustaining immune responses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is now clear that innate lymphoid cells markedly contribute to immune responses and tissue repair in a number of disease contexts. Although experimental and clinical data on the behaviour of these cells following transplantation are scant, it is highly likely that innate lymphoid cells will perform similar functions in the alloimmune response following transplantation and therefore may be potential therapeutic targets for manipulation to prevent allograft rejection.
authors.affiliation: MRC Centre for Immune Regulation, Institute for Biomedical Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Withers
authors.forename: Emma C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Mackley
authors.forename: Nick D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D064591:Allografts; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*