Group 3 innate lymphoid cells mediate early protective immunity against TB
The researchers investigated innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in immune responses to infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). In the study they showed that ILCs are activated and recruited to the human lung during infection with Mtb. It therefore follows that the ILCs participate in immunity to Tuberculosis (TB).
Multiple mouse models were used to illustrate the importance of ILC3s to the outcome of infection – a reduction in lung ILC3s weakened early immune control of Mtb. As there were more Mtb bacteria in the lung the was a coinciding decrease in IL-17 and IL-22 production, “compromised alveolar macrophage accumulation and impaired iBALT organization, which was dependent on the CXCR5–CXCL13 axis—which are key aspects of the immune response to Mtb”.
Dr William Horsnell and Dr Matthew Darby and their colleagues have therefore demonstrated an early protective role for ILC3s in immunity to Mtb infection.
Read the paper - Group 3 innate lymphoid cells mediate early protective immunity against tuberculosis
Article by Bonamy Holtak