Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Isolation of Group 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells from Mouse Nasal Mucosa to Detect the Expression of CD226
Published on: May 10, 2022
Unveiling the sensing potential of innate lymphoid cells
Raquel Castillo-González1, Lucía Sancho-Temiño1, Alba Seguí-Pérez1
1Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology, and ENT, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (Imas12), Madrid, Spain.
None:
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are key regulators of early immune responses and play a central role in mucosal immunity, where they contribute to host defense and tissue homoeostasis. This review synthesizes evidence that ILCs, including natural killer cells (NKs), ILC1s, ILC2s, ILC3s, and lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) cells, directly sense pathogens via pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Beyond their established role as cytokine responders, emerging data reveal that ILCs engage PRRs to initiate complementary, context-dependent signaling pathways. This direct recognition mechanism redefines the functional landscape of ILCs in early immune surveillance, moving beyond reliance on indirect stromal signals. Collectively, these insights reposition ILCs as active sentinels in host defense and highlight the ILC-PRR axis as a novel therapeutic avenue for modulating immune responses in infectious, inflammatory, and cancer-related diseases.
Related Concept Videos
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response
Introduction to Lymphatic and Immune System
The immune responses can be categorized into two types: innate and adaptive. Innate immunity comprises nonspecific defenses we are born...
B Cell Activation and Differentiation
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
Introduction to Innate and Adaptive Immunity
Innate immunity is the body's natural, nonspecific defense system that acts quickly to protect against pathogens. It incorporates physical barriers like skin and mucous membranes and cellular elements such as phagocytes and natural killer cells. This part of our immune system provides an immediate,...
Functions of the Lymphatic and Immune System
The primary lymphoid organs, including the bone marrow and the thymus, serve as the maturation sites for lymphocytes. Secondary lymphoid organs, like the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, activate these lymphocytes and serve as...

