Innate lymphoid cells and gastrointestinal disease

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a group of innate immune cells, which constitute the first line of defense in the immune system, together with skin and mucous membrane. ILCs also play an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of the body, particularly in the complex and diverse environment of the intestine. ILCs respond to different microenvironments, maintaining homeostasis directly or indirectly through cytokines. As a result, ILCs, with complex and pleiotropic characteristics, are associated with many gastrointestinal diseases. Their ability of transition among those subgroups makes them function as both promoting and inhibiting cells, thus affecting homeostasis and disease progressing to either alleviation or deterioration. With these special characteristics, ILCs theoretically can be used in the new generation of immunotherapy as an alternative and supplement to current tumor therapy. Our review summarizes the characteristics of ILCs with respect to category, function, and the relationship with intestinal homeostasis and gastrointestinal diseases. In addition, potential tumor immunotherapies involving ILCs are also discussed to shed light on the perspectives of immunotherapy. Copyright (C) 2021, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Genetics Society of China. Published by Elsevier Limited and Science Press. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

ILCs, as innate immune cells, play a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and are associated with a variety of gastrointestinal diseases due to their complex and pleiotropic characteristics. Their ability to transition among subgroups allows them to function both as promoting and inhibiting cells, impacting disease progression towards either alleviation or deterioration.