The role of innate lymphoid cells in nasal inflammation and cancer

K.-J. Cheng, Y.-C. Liu, M.-L. Zhou, S.-H. Zhou

Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. 1505026@zju.edu.cn

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• Otorhinolaryngology

OBJECTIVE: The innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a recently discovered type of innate immune cell. The functions of these cells resemble different T-cell subtypes. These cells play important roles in local injury, inflammation, pathogen infection, or tumours. However, there have been few studies focusing on the role of ILCs in nasal diseases.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the literature about the roles of ILCs in nasal inflammation, tissue remodeling, and cancer.
RESULTS: The ILCs represent a newly identified family of innate immune cells. These cells play important roles in inflammation, immune responses, tissue remodeling, and cancer immunity. The ILCs, especially ILC2s, play important roles in CRSwNP and AR. ILC2s may be involved in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic inflammation in non-allergic nasal diseases, such as non-allergic CRSwNP and non-allergic rhinitis. ILCs also play pro-tumor or anti-tumor roles in cancer immunity for head and neck cancer.
CONCLUSIONS: LC2s may be a useful therapeutic target for CRSwNP and AR. ILCs may also represent new therapeutic targets to activate anti-tumor immunity in head and neck cancer.

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