Metabolic features of innate lymphoid cells

Innate lymphoid cells are critical for tissue protection and immunity in animals, and their localization at the body's surfaces position them to respond rapidly. Yu and colleagues review the metabolic pathways that underlie ILC phenotype and function and adaptation to dynamically changing conditions for homeostasis. Innate and adaptive immune cells are found in distinct tissue niches where they orchestrate immune responses. This requires intrinsic and temporal metabolic adaptability to coordinately activate the immune response cascade. Dysregulation of this program is a key feature of immunosuppression. Direct or indirect metabolic immune cell reprogramming may offer new approaches to modulate immune cells behavior for therapy to overcome dysregulation. In this review, we explored how metabolism regulates lymphocytes beyond the classical T cell subsets. We focus on the innate lymphoid cell (ILC) family, highlighting the distinct metabolic characteristics of these cells, the impact of environmental factors, and the receptors that could alter immune cell functions through manipulation of metabolic pathways to potentially prevent or treat various diseases.

Automated summary

This article reviews the critical role of innate lymphoid cells in tissue protection and immunity in animals, and discusses their metabolic pathways and adaptability to changing conditions. Reprogramming immune cell metabolism may offer new strategies for modulating immune cell behavior and treating various diseases.