Type 2 innate lymphoid cells-new members of the "type 2 franchise" that mediate allergic airway inflammation

Eur J Immunol. 2012 May;42(5):1093-6. doi: 10.1002/eji.201242549.

Abstract

Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are members of an ILC family, which contains NK cells and Rorγt(+) ILCs, the latter including lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) cells and ILCs producing IL-17 and IL-22. ILC2s are dedicated to the production of IL-5 and IL-13 and, as such, ILC2s provide an early and important source of type 2 cytokines critical for helminth expulsion in the gut. Several studies have also demonstrated a role for ILC2s in airway inflammation. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, Klein Wolterink et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2012. 42: 1106-1116] show that ILC2s are instrumental in several models of experimental asthma where they significantly contribute to production of IL-5 and IL-13, key cytokines in airway inflammation. This study sheds light over the relative contribution of ILC2s versus T helper type 2 cells (Th2) in type 2 mediated allergen-specific inflammation in the airways as discussed in this commentary.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Interleukin-13 / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukin-5 / biosynthesis*
  • Lung / immunology*
  • Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Interleukin-13
  • Interleukin-5