IL-13 from intraepithelial lymphocytes regulates tissue homeostasis and protects against carcinogenesis in the skin

Epidermal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) produce IL-13, but the physiological role of this cytokine production is not clear. Here the authors show that IEL-production of IL-13 is a vital lymphoid stress surveillance mechanism driving crosstalk with epithelial cells to maintain tissue homeostasis and inhibit chemical carcinogenesis in mice.