Type-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) belong to an expanding family of innate lymphocytes that provide a potent source of immune effector cytokines at the initiation of immune responses. ILC2 arise, under the control of the transcription factors RORa and GATA3, from lymphoid progenitors in the bone marrow, to secrete type-2 cytokines including IL-5 and IL-13. Using experimental models, ILC2 have been implicated in allergic diseases, such as asthma and atopic dermatitis, but also in metabolic homeostasis. Furthermore, recent reports have indicated that ILC2 not only play roles at the initiation of type-2 immunity but can also contribute to chronic pathology, such as fibrosis, and can impact on the priming of the adaptive T-cell response. The identification of ILC2 in patients with allergic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis indicates that these cells may represent new therapeutic targets.Keywords: type-2 immunity; type-2 innate lymphoid cells; innate immunity; cytokines However, a recent major paradigm shift has added another layer of complexity to immunoregulation by cytokines with the discovery of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) (2). ILCs produce many Th cell-associated cytokines but do not express cell surface markers associated with other immune cell lineages (lineage-negative [Lin 2 ]) and do not express a T-cell receptor. The ILC family now includes ILC1 (predominantly IFN-g-expressing cells), ILC2 (predominantly IL-5-and IL-13-expressing cells), and ILC3 (predominantly IL-22-and IL-17-expressing cells) (3-6). Due to their recent discovery, our knowledge of these cells is still rather rudimentary, but major roles are emerging for ILCs in protective immunity against parasitic helminths (ILC2) (7-9) and bacteria (ILC1 and ILC3) (10-12), and in autoimmune disorders (ILC1 and ILC3) (13), allergic disease (ILC2) (14-16), and obesity (17)(18)(19).Recent comprehensive reviews have described the identification and phenotypic characterization of 20). This review focuses on the most recent advances in our understanding of the factors that regulate ILC2 development and how these cells contribute to allergy and lung inflammation.
ILC2ILC2 are found in the blood, spleen, intestine, liver, lung, fat-associated lymphoid clusters, and lymph nodes of mice (7-9). They are Lin 2 (CD3CD4CD8CD19CD11bCD11cFceR1 NK1.1Gr1 2 ) CD45 1 CD127