Invited review article
Proallergic cytokines and group 2 innate lymphoid cells in allergic nasal diseases

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.alit.2014.12.008Get rights and content
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Abstract

Recent advances in our understanding of proallergic cytokines and group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) indicate their critical roles in type 2 immunity-mediated disorders. Proallergic cytokines, interleukin (IL)-25, IL-33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin, are released from epithelial cells in inflamed tissues and drive type 2 inflammation by acting on innate and acquired immune systems. ILC2s are an innate immune population that responds to proallergic cytokines by producing type 2 cytokines. In line with allergic disorders in the lung, skin, and intestine, emerging evidence suggests the involvement of proallergic cytokines and ILC2s in allergic nasal diseases such as chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps (CRSwNP), allergic fungal rhinosinusitis, and allergic rhinitis (AR). In CRSwNP patients, both proallergic cytokine levels and ILC2s frequency are increased in the nasal mucosa. Increased proallergic cytokine levels correlate with poorer disease outcomes in CRSwNP. Levels of nasal proallergic cytokines are also elevated in AR patients. In addition, animal studies demonstrate that cytokines are essential for the development of AR. It is becoming clear that the proallergic cytokine/ILC2s axis participates in allergic diseases by multiple mechanisms dependent upon the inflammatory context. Thus, a thorough understanding of these cytokines and ILC2s including their tissue- and disease-specific roles is essential for targeting the pathways to achieve therapeutic applications.

Keywords

Allergic rhinitis
Chronic rhinosinusitis
Group 2 innate lymphoid cells
Proallergic cytokines
Upper airway

Abbreviations

AFRS
allergic fungal rhinosinusitis
AR
allergic rhinitis
CRS
chronic rhinosinusitis
CRSsNP
chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps
CRSwNP
chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
DC
dendritic cell
GM-CSF
granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor
HDM
house dust mite
IL
interleukin
ILC2
group 2 innate lymphoid cell
NAR
non-allergic rhinitis
TLR
toll-like receptor
TSLP
thymic stromal lymphopoietin
OVA
ovalbumin
PBMC
peripheral blood mononuclear cell

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Peer review under responsibility of Japanese Society of Allergology.