Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), initially described in mice, are lymphoid cells that lack the specific antigenic receptor but they mimic some conventional T cell aspects. ILCs are divided in different groups regarding their characteristics and functions, and they present plasticity which allow them to change their phenotype and functionality to adapt to the microenvironment where they are. ILC are considered resident cells in different peripheral tissues but also they can be present in lymph and peripheral blood. NK cells are one of the most studied ILCs and their classification is controversial, due in part to the fact that some information comes from new descriptions in mice, which differ from humans in many respects.
The descriptions of the ILCs are complex and discordant, some authors divided them into three groups (ILC1, 2, and 3) and others into five (NK, ILC1, 2, 3, and LTi). This mismatch is evident especially for NK cells, a kind of misunderstood ILC, for resident subsets, and for the different possible origin of ILC. Today, to better understand the origin and classification of ILC as a whole, and its participation in the immune response, it is necessary to unify criteria and nomenclature after comparing human and mouse recent studies.
The goal of this Research Topic is to deepen our knowledge on the origin, classification and activity of ILCs, taking into account the published bibliography. With this collection, we also wish to provide a clear and complete overview on ILCs to readers who are approaching this field.
We particularly welcome the submissions of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Perspective articles on the following subtopics:
• ILCs classification depending on developmental and functional studies.
• ILCs characterization and enlargement to humans.
• How much of ILCs biology is transposable between mice and humans?
• ILCs identity and plasticity during an immune response.
• Diversity in renewal of ILC subsets during an immune response.
• New functions of specific ILC subsets (kidney, joints, brain, etc.).
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), initially described in mice, are lymphoid cells that lack the specific antigenic receptor but they mimic some conventional T cell aspects. ILCs are divided in different groups regarding their characteristics and functions, and they present plasticity which allow them to change their phenotype and functionality to adapt to the microenvironment where they are. ILC are considered resident cells in different peripheral tissues but also they can be present in lymph and peripheral blood. NK cells are one of the most studied ILCs and their classification is controversial, due in part to the fact that some information comes from new descriptions in mice, which differ from humans in many respects.
The descriptions of the ILCs are complex and discordant, some authors divided them into three groups (ILC1, 2, and 3) and others into five (NK, ILC1, 2, 3, and LTi). This mismatch is evident especially for NK cells, a kind of misunderstood ILC, for resident subsets, and for the different possible origin of ILC. Today, to better understand the origin and classification of ILC as a whole, and its participation in the immune response, it is necessary to unify criteria and nomenclature after comparing human and mouse recent studies.
The goal of this Research Topic is to deepen our knowledge on the origin, classification and activity of ILCs, taking into account the published bibliography. With this collection, we also wish to provide a clear and complete overview on ILCs to readers who are approaching this field.
We particularly welcome the submissions of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Perspective articles on the following subtopics:
• ILCs classification depending on developmental and functional studies.
• ILCs characterization and enlargement to humans.
• How much of ILCs biology is transposable between mice and humans?
• ILCs identity and plasticity during an immune response.
• Diversity in renewal of ILC subsets during an immune response.
• New functions of specific ILC subsets (kidney, joints, brain, etc.).
