Type 2 innate lymphoid cells drive CD4+ Th2 cell responses

J Immunol. 2014 Mar 1;192(5):2442-8. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1300974. Epub 2014 Jan 27.

Abstract

CD4(+) T cells have long been grouped into distinct helper subsets on the basis of their cytokine-secretion profile. In recent years, several subsets of innate lymphoid cell have been described as key producers of these same Th-associated cytokines. However, the functional relationship between Th cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) remains unclear. We show in this study that lineage-negative ST2(+)ICOS(+)CD45(+) type 2 ILCs and CD4(+) T cells can potently stimulate each other's function via distinct mechanisms. CD4(+) T cell provision of IL-2 stimulates type 2 cytokine production by type 2 ILCs. By contrast, type 2 ILCs modulate naive T cell activation in a cell contact-dependent manner, favoring Th2 while suppressing Th1 differentiation. Furthermore, a proportion of type 2 ILCs express MHC class II and can present peptide Ag in vitro. Importantly, cotransfer experiments show that type 2 ILCs also can boost CD4(+) T cell responses to Ag in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Differentiation / genetics
  • Antigens, Differentiation / immunology*
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology*
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / immunology*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / immunology*
  • Immunity, Innate / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Th1 Cells / cytology
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / cytology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • Cytokines
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II