The origin and role of innate lymphoid cells in the lung

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), a newly identified member of the lymphoid population, play a critical role in the transition from innate to adaptive immunity in host defense. ILCs are important in mucosal barrier immunity, tissue homeostasis, and immune regulation throughout the body. Significant alterations in ILC responses in lung diseases have been observed and reported. Emerging evidence has shown that ILCs are importantly involved in the pathogenesis and development of a variety of lung diseases, i.e., helminth infections, allergic airway inflammation, and airway hyper-responsiveness. However, as a tissue-resident cell population, the role of ILCs in the lung remains poorly characterized. In this review, we discuss the role of ILCs in lung diseases, the mechanisms underlying the ILC-mediated regulation of immunity, and the therapeutic potential of modulating ILC responses.