Innate Lymphoid Cells in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract with rising incidence and an unclear etiology. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) have recently emerged as key regulators of mucosal immunity and tissue home...

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Main Authors: Xin Yao, Kaiming Ma, Yangzhuangzhuang Zhu, Siyan Cao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Cells
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/11/825
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author Xin Yao
Kaiming Ma
Yangzhuangzhuang Zhu
Siyan Cao
author_facet Xin Yao
Kaiming Ma
Yangzhuangzhuang Zhu
Siyan Cao
author_sort Xin Yao
collection DOAJ
description Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract with rising incidence and an unclear etiology. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) have recently emerged as key regulators of mucosal immunity and tissue homeostasis and are increasingly implicated in IBD. Unlike adaptive lymphocytes, ILCs do not require antigen recognition and clonal expansion to respond rapidly to environmental cues and shape immune responses. In a healthy gut, ILCs maintain intestinal homeostasis by guarding the epithelial barrier, protecting against pathogens, and mounting proper responses to external insults. However, their altered differentiation, proliferation, recruitment, activation, and interaction with other host cells, microbiota, and environmental stimuli may contribute to IBD. In this review, we discuss recent advances in understanding murine and human ILCs in the context of intestinal inflammation and IBD. A deeper understanding of ILC-mediated immune mechanisms may offer novel therapeutic strategies for restoring intestinal homeostasis and improving personalized management of IBD.
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spelling doaj-art-a11bc89f005c47f396a1397b22bd3de92025-08-20T02:32:52ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-06-01141182510.3390/cells14110825Innate Lymphoid Cells in Inflammatory Bowel DiseaseXin Yao0Kaiming Ma1Yangzhuangzhuang Zhu2Siyan Cao3Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USADivision of Gastroenterology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USADivision of Gastroenterology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USADivision of Gastroenterology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USAInflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract with rising incidence and an unclear etiology. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) have recently emerged as key regulators of mucosal immunity and tissue homeostasis and are increasingly implicated in IBD. Unlike adaptive lymphocytes, ILCs do not require antigen recognition and clonal expansion to respond rapidly to environmental cues and shape immune responses. In a healthy gut, ILCs maintain intestinal homeostasis by guarding the epithelial barrier, protecting against pathogens, and mounting proper responses to external insults. However, their altered differentiation, proliferation, recruitment, activation, and interaction with other host cells, microbiota, and environmental stimuli may contribute to IBD. In this review, we discuss recent advances in understanding murine and human ILCs in the context of intestinal inflammation and IBD. A deeper understanding of ILC-mediated immune mechanisms may offer novel therapeutic strategies for restoring intestinal homeostasis and improving personalized management of IBD.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/11/825inflammatory bowel diseaseinnate lymphoid cellsmucosal immunityanimal modelsnovel therapies
spellingShingle Xin Yao
Kaiming Ma
Yangzhuangzhuang Zhu
Siyan Cao
Innate Lymphoid Cells in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Cells
inflammatory bowel disease
innate lymphoid cells
mucosal immunity
animal models
novel therapies
title Innate Lymphoid Cells in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
title_full Innate Lymphoid Cells in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
title_fullStr Innate Lymphoid Cells in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
title_full_unstemmed Innate Lymphoid Cells in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
title_short Innate Lymphoid Cells in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
title_sort innate lymphoid cells in inflammatory bowel disease
topic inflammatory bowel disease
innate lymphoid cells
mucosal immunity
animal models
novel therapies
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/11/825
work_keys_str_mv AT xinyao innatelymphoidcellsininflammatoryboweldisease
AT kaimingma innatelymphoidcellsininflammatoryboweldisease
AT yangzhuangzhuangzhu innatelymphoidcellsininflammatoryboweldisease
AT siyancao innatelymphoidcellsininflammatoryboweldisease