Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) are innate immune cells that respond rapidly to their environment through soluble inflammatory mediators and cell-to-cell interactions. As tissue-resident sentinels, ILC2 help orchestrate localized type 2 immune responses. These ILC2-driven type 2 responses are now recognized in diverse immune processes, different anatomical locations, and homeostatic or pathological settings. ILC2-derived cytokines and cell surface signaling molecules function as key regulators of innate and adaptive immunity. Conversely, ILC2 are governed by their environment. As such, ILC2 form an important nexus of the immune system and may present an attractive target for immune modulation in disease.
Keywords: ILC2; T helper cells; TH2; innate lymphoid cells; type 2 response.
© 2018 New York Academy of Sciences.