capable of innate lymphoid cell group 2 innate lymphoid cell 2017-01-30T21:20:08Z nuocyte natural helper cell An innate lymphoid cell that is capable of producing T-helper 2-cell associated cytokines upon stimulation. ILC2 https://cellxgene.cziscience.com/cellguide/CL_0001069 Group 2 innate lymphoid cells, also known as ILC2 cells, are a subset of the innate lymphoid cell family - a family of immune cells crucial for host defense, immune regulation, and tissue repair especially in the context of infections and inflammatory conditions. These cells are largely tissue-resident, predominantly residing in barrier tissues such as the skin, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. ILC2s are defined by their expression and reliance on the GATA3 transcription factor. ILC2 cells play a significant role in the immune response, especially against parasitic infections and in allergic responses and autoimmune disorders. They predominantly produce type 2 cytokines including interleukin-5 (IL-5) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) in response to stimuli such as cytokines IL-25 and IL-33, which are often produced by epithelial cells in response to tissue damage. IL-5 is crucial for eosinophil activation, a component of the immune system that plays a key role in combating parasitic infections. Concurrently, IL-13 helps in expelling parasites from the body's system, as well as enforcing barrier integrity. ILC2s are also instrumental in tissue repair and homeostasis. They help in maintaining body metabolism and fat storage, largely by producing a hormone known as methionine-enkephalin peptides. ILC2 cells also aid in early tissue repair processes, by the secretion of amphiregulin, a growth factor. Despite their protective functions, ILC2 cells can also contribute to pathologies such as asthma and other inflammatory diseases if their actions are not properly regulated. (This extended description was generated by ChatGPT and reviewed by the CellGuide team, who added references, and by the CL editors, who approved it for inclusion in CL. It may contain information that applies only to some subtypes and species, and so should not be considered definitional.) interleukin-5 production