Neill D R, Flynn R J
Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Parasite Immunol. 2018 Feb;40(2). doi: 10.1111/pim.12436. Epub 2017 May 22.
The identification, in the late 2000s, of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) as a new class of non-B, non-T lymphocytes has led to global efforts to understand their functions, plasticity and evolutionary origins and to define their place within the leucocyte family. Although this work has uncovered striking similarities in the developmental cues, lineage-specific transcription factors and functional capacities of innate and adaptive lymphocytes, it has become clear that ILCs play a unique and defining role as stewards of barrier defence and that this sets them apart from their adaptive cousins. This review will explore how the dynamic environment of barrier surfaces has shaped ILC evolution and functionality. We highlight the critical importance of the microbiome and the unique role of ILCs as environmental sensors. We reflect on how these factors may have influenced the development of ILC2s and barrier immunity in the context of exposure to helminth parasites that have been driving forces of our evolution throughout human history. Finally, we argue that the plasticity of ILC function reflects their role as first responders to environmental change.
21世纪末，天然淋巴细胞（ILCs）作为一类新的非B、非T淋巴细胞被识别出来，这引发了全球范围内对其功能、可塑性、进化起源的研究，并致力于明确它们在白细胞家族中的地位。尽管这项工作揭示了天然淋巴细胞和适应性淋巴细胞在发育线索、谱系特异性转录因子及功能能力方面存在惊人的相似性，但很明显，ILCs作为屏障防御的守护者发挥着独特且决定性的作用，这使其有别于适应性淋巴细胞。本综述将探讨屏障表面的动态环境如何塑造了ILCs的进化和功能。我们强调微生物群的关键重要性以及ILCs作为环境传感器的独特作用。我们思考在接触蠕虫寄生虫的背景下，这些因素可能如何影响了ILC2s的发育和屏障免疫，而蠕虫寄生虫在人类历史进程中一直是推动我们进化的力量。最后，我们认为ILC功能的可塑性反映了它们作为环境变化第一响应者的作用。
