title: What rheumatologists need to know about innate lymphocytes.
abstract: Many rheumatic diseases are characterized by having an autoimmune background. Determining the mechanisms underlying autoimmunity is, therefore, important to further understand these diseases and to inform future lines of research aimed at developing new treatments and cures. As fast responders, innate lymphocytes have protective or pathogenic roles in the initiation as well as the maintenance of immune responses in general, and they contribute to tissue homeostasis, among other functions. Innate lymphocytes also seem to be involved in autoimmunity in particular. Since 2010, accumulating evidence clearly shows that different populations of innate lymphocytes have roles in responding to antigen-specific autoantibody and autoreactive T cells, thereby amplifying or attenuating disease processes. Cytotoxicity is a cardinal feature of many innate lymphocytes and can contribute to inflammatory tissue damage. Finally, innate lymphocytes can respond to biologic therapies for autoimmune diseases. Consequently, like TNF and other effector molecules, certain innate lymphocyte subsets might be appropriate therapeutic targets to ameliorate various autoimmune diseases. In this Review, we summarize the main characteristics and functions of innate lymphocyte subsets, and describe their roles in autoimmune disease. We also discuss how biologic therapies influence innate lymphocyte function and consider the potential for these cell subsets to act as future therapeutic targets.
authors: Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research (MCCIR), The University of Manchester, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK.|Gastroenterology, Hepatology &Endoscopy, Brigham &Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.|Agenus Inc., 3 Forbes Road, Lexington, Massachusetts 02421, USA.
authors: Mark A
authors: MA
authors: Exley
authors: Rheumatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
authors: George C
authors: GC
authors: Tsokos
authors: School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors: Kingston H G
authors: KH
authors: Mills
authors: Laboratory for Molecular Immunology and Inflammation, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Ghent, De Pintelaan 185, 0K12B, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.|Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) Inflammation Research Center, Fiers-Schell-Van Montagu Building, Technologiepark 927, Ghent University, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Dirk
authors: D
authors: Elewaut
authors: Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research (MCCIR), The University of Manchester, Grafton Street, Manchester M13 9NT, UK.|Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.|Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK.
authors: Ben
authors: B
authors: Mulhearn
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000072336:Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells / Q000276:immunology; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha