Innate Lymphoid Cells and Their Role in the Immune Response to Infections
Marek Fol,
Wojciech Karpik,
Agnieszka Zablotni,
Jakub Kulesza,
Ewelina Kulesza,
Magdalena Godkowicz,
Magdalena Druszczynska
Affiliations
Marek Fol
Department of Immunology and Infectious Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
Wojciech Karpik
Department of Immunology and Infectious Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
Agnieszka Zablotni
Department of Bacterial Biology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
Jakub Kulesza
Department of Internal Diseases and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lodz, 91-347 Lodz, Poland
Ewelina Kulesza
Department of Rheumatology and Internal Diseases, Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Lodz, Poland
Magdalena Godkowicz
Department of Immunology and Infectious Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
Magdalena Druszczynska
Department of Immunology and Infectious Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
Over the past decade, a group of lymphocyte-like cells called innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) has gained considerable attention due to their crucial role in regulating immunity and tissue homeostasis. ILCs, lacking antigen-specific receptors, are a group of functionally differentiated effector cells that act as tissue-resident sentinels against infections. Numerous studies have elucidated the characteristics of ILC subgroups, but the mechanisms controlling protective or pathological responses to pathogens still need to be better understood. This review summarizes the functions of ILCs in the immunology of infections caused by different intracellular and extracellular pathogens and discusses their possible therapeutic potential.
