ILCs and Allergy

The recent discovery of new innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) has revolutionized the field of allergies. Since most allergic diseases induce a type 2 immune response, Th2 cells, which produce IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in an antigen-dependent manner, in addition to basophils and mast cells which are activated by antigen-specific IgE, are thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis. However, since group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) produce type 2 cytokines (i.e., IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-13, GM-CSF, and amphiregulin) in response to various cytokines, including IL-33 in the surrounding environment, the possibility has emerged that there are two types of allergies: allergies induced in an antigen-dependent manner by Th2 cells and allergies induced in an antigen-independent manner by ILC2s. In order to make an impact on the increasing incidence of allergic diseases in the world, it is essential to research and develop new treatments that focus not only on Th2 cells but also on ILC2s. In this chapter, the role of ILCs in allergic diseases, which has rapidly changed with the discovery of ILCs, is discussed, focusing mainly on ILC2s.