Innate Lymphoid Cells in the Skin

The skin forms the body’s primary interface with the environment and, as such, is equipped with a network of immune cells to provide the first line of defense against infection and injury. Recently, a new family of lymphocyte-like immune cells has been described that does not express rearranged antigen receptors. These cells have been termed innate lymphoid cells (ILC), and comprise several subsets that are defined by the expression of certain transcription factors and cytokines. Emerging evidence has implicated ILC in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and neoplastic skin diseases. Here, we review the biology of ILC and their role in skin pathophysiology.