Innate immune cells
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The Role of Innate Immune Cells in Immunity and Disease
Introduction to Innate Immune Cells
Innate immune cells are the body's first line of defense against pathogens and play a crucial role in maintaining tissue homeostasis. These cells include dendritic cells, monocytes, macrophages, granulocytes, and the more recently identified innate lymphoid cells (ILCs)1 6. They are responsible for the rapid recognition and elimination of pathogens, as well as the initiation of adaptive immune responses2.
Innate Lymphoid Cells (ILCs)
Discovery and Function
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a relatively new discovery in immunology, identified over the past decade. These cells are unique because they do not express antigen receptors like T and B cells but can produce a similar array of cytokines, allowing them to respond quickly to infections1 7. ILCs are divided into several subsets, including ILC1, ILC2, and ILC3, each mirroring the functions of different T cell subsets7. For instance, ILC2s are crucial for type-2 immune responses, which are important for fighting helminth infections and are involved in allergic reactions5.
Role in Disease and Homeostasis
ILCs play significant roles in various physiological and pathological processes. They are involved in tissue repair, metabolic regulation, and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis1 7. However, their dysregulation can contribute to chronic inflammation and cancer3. For example, ILCs can exacerbate inflammatory processes through the production of cytokines, which may lead to immunopathology7.
Communication and Coordination Among Innate Cells
Pathogen Recognition and Elimination
Innate immune cells are adept at recognizing pathogens through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and initiating immediate immune responses. These cells do not act in isolation; instead, they communicate extensively with each other and with adaptive immune cells to coordinate a comprehensive immune response2. This communication is essential for the efficient eradication of pathogens and the development of 'trained' innate cells that can respond more effectively to subsequent infections2.
Mechanosensitivity and Signal Transduction
Innate immune cells are also sensitive to mechanical signals from their environment. Mechanosensitive ion channels and cell adhesion molecules play a role in how these cells interpret physical cues, which can influence their activation and function4. This mechanosensitivity is crucial for their ability to respond to tissue damage and infection, and it presents potential therapeutic targets for various diseases4.
Innate Immune Cells in Inflammation and Cancer
Inflammatory Responses
The innate immune system is pivotal in mediating inflammatory responses to infection and tissue damage. Activated innate immune cells produce inflammatory mediators that help eliminate pathogens but can also contribute to tissue damage if not regulated properly3. Chronic inflammation driven by innate immune cells is associated with an increased risk of cancer and other chronic diseases3.
Cancer Development
Inflammation is a double-edged sword in cancer. While it is essential for fighting infections and promoting tissue repair, chronic inflammation can create a microenvironment that supports tumor growth and progression3. Understanding the balance between beneficial and harmful inflammation is key to developing new therapeutic strategies for cancer and other inflammatory diseases3.
Aging and the Innate Immune System
Immunosenescence
Aging affects the innate immune system, leading to a phenomenon known as immunosenescence. This is characterized by a decline in the function of innate immune cells and a persistent low-grade inflammatory state, termed "inflamm-aging"9. These changes can impair the body's ability to respond to infections and increase the risk of chronic inflammatory diseases in the elderly9.
Conclusion
Innate immune cells are essential for the immediate defense against pathogens and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Recent discoveries, particularly regarding innate lymphoid cells, have expanded our understanding of the innate immune system's complexity and its interplay with adaptive immunity. However, the dysregulation of innate immune responses can contribute to chronic inflammation, cancer, and age-related immune decline. Continued research into the mechanisms governing innate immune cell function and communication will be crucial for developing new therapeutic strategies for a wide range of diseases.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
The biology of innate lymphoid cells
Innate lymphoid cells play a crucial role in controlling tissue homeostasis in infections, chronic inflammation, metabolic diseases, and cancer.
Rigorous Journal
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Innate immune cells play a crucial role in inflammation and cancer development, with their inflammatory mediators increasing cancer risk and tumorigenesis.
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Innate immune cells sense and respond to their physical environment through mechanosensitive ion channels and cell adhesion molecules, offering potential targets for treating human diseases like autoimmune, allergic, infectious, and malignant conditions.
Nuocytes represent a new innate effector leukocyte that mediates type-2 immunity
Nuocytes are a new innate effector cell in type-2 immunity, playing a crucial role in protecting against helminth infections and allergic asthma.
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Aging of the innate immune system.
Aging leads to defects in activation of innate immune cells, resulting in a pro-inflammatory environment that may exacerbate tissue damage caused by infections.
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Innate-adaptive immunity interplay and redox regulation play crucial roles in tissue inflammation, and understanding these mechanisms could lead to therapeutic targets for immunological and inflammatory diseases.
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