c-Kit-positive ILC2s exhibit an ILC3-like signature that may contribute to IL-17-mediated pathologies

JH Bernink, Y Ohne, MBM Teunissen, J Wang… - Nature …, 2019 - nature.com
JH Bernink, Y Ohne, MBM Teunissen, J Wang, J Wu, L Krabbendam, C Guntermann…
Nature immunology, 2019nature.com
Here we identify a group 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2) subpopulation that can convert into
interleukin-17 (IL-17)-producing NKp44− ILC3-like cells. c-Kit and CCR6 define this ILC2
subpopulation that exhibits ILC3 features, including RORγt, enabling the conversion into IL-
17-producing cells in response to IL-1β and IL-23. We also report a role for transforming
growth factor-β in promoting the conversion of c-Kit− ILC2s into RORγt-expressing cells by
inducing the upregulation of IL23R, CCR6 and KIT messenger RNA in these cells. This …
Abstract
Here we identify a group 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2) subpopulation that can convert into interleukin-17 (IL-17)-producing NKp44 ILC3-like cells. c-Kit and CCR6 define this ILC2 subpopulation that exhibits ILC3 features, including RORγt, enabling the conversion into IL-17-producing cells in response to IL-1β and IL-23. We also report a role for transforming growth factor-β in promoting the conversion of c-Kit ILC2s into RORγt-expressing cells by inducing the upregulation of IL23R, CCR6 and KIT messenger RNA in these cells. This switch was dependent on RORγt and the downregulation of GATA-3. IL-4 was able to reverse this event, supporting a role for this cytokine in maintaining ILC2 identity. Notably, this plasticity has physiological relevance because a subset of RORγt+ ILC2s express the skin-homing receptor CCR10, and the frequencies of IL-17-producing ILC3s are increased at the expense of ILC2s within the lesional skin of patients with psoriasis.
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