Research progress in innate lymphoid cells / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

The newly identified innate lymphoid cells ( ILCs) are a member of innate lymphocytes which functionally resemble adaptive lymphocytes. ILCs arise from a common lymphoid progenitor ( CLP) and locate in multiple tissues. Three distinct groups of ILCs have been identified on the basis of transcription factors and expression of effector cytokines and termed ILC1s, ILC2s and ILC3s. These heterogeneous sub-sets play different roles in different tissues. They are involved in tissue remodeling, healing, anti-parasitic and anti-bacterial infections, tumor development, metabolic stability and immune tolerance to symbiotic mi-croorganisms. Here we focused on the most recent data concerning the classification, development and differ-entiation of ILCs as well as the new functions of ILCs.