The role of innate lymphoid cells in the diseases

A novel family of leukocytes, named with innate lymphoid cells, has emerged as important effector cells in immune reactions from recent researches. The subsets of innate lymphoid cells have different property of cytokine production and usage of transcription factor. The family consists of T-bet+INFγ+ group 1 innate lymphoid cells, GATA3+IL5+IL13+ group 2 innate lymphoid cells, and RORγt+IL17+ and/or IL22+ group 3 innate lymphoid cells. The innate lymphoid cells contribute to the early processes in immune responses. The group 1, 2, and 3 innate lymphoid cells provided essential roles in induction of immune responses, including type 1,2, and 3 immune reactions, respectively, to protect the invasion of dangerous pathogens, including virus, bacteria, and fungi. On the contrary, the cell family has been found in a variety of diseases by the evidences from experimental models, suggesting the innate lymphoid cells serve as important roles in the immune-pathogenesis of several autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disorders, including rheumatic diseases, chronic allergic pulmonary disorders, inflammatory bowel diseases, multiple sclerosis, and malignancies. The discoveries of works provided by innate lymphoid cells in a variety of autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders promote further understanding In immune responses. The regulation of the innate lymphoid cells will provide the more effective and novel therapeutic strategy treatments in human diseases.