The innate lymphoid cell (ILC) family comsists of cytotoxic natural killer (NK) cells and cytokine-producing helper-like ILCs, which are further divided into three groups based on the cytokines they produce and the expression of key transcription factors. Currently, we are mainly interested in group 2 ILCs. We previously found ILC2s in mouse lungs and shown them to produce large amounts of Th2-type cytokines that drive l allergic inflammation (Halim et al. Immunity 2012a). We also developed ILC2-deficient mice and shown that ILC2s are critical for allergen-induced lung inflammation (Halim et al. Immunity 2012b). ILC2s also promotethe differentiation of naïve CD4+ T cells into Th2 cells (Halim et al. Immunity 2014). More recently, we have shown that activated lung ILC2s acquire antigen non-specific memory functions and drive severe allergic lung inflammation upon allergen re-exposure (Martinez-Gonzalez et al. Immunity 2018).
Our current research projects include:
- Investigation of ILC2 heterogeneity by single cell RNA sequencing, multi-color flow cytometry and functional analyses.
- Studies on the development and activation of lung ILC2s in the neonatal period and their role in adult lung immunity.
- Studies on tissue resident versus migratory ILC2s and their role in various inflammatory diseases.
- Analyses of ILC3s in mouse lungs.
![ILC Meeting, Berlin](https://www.bccrc.ca/dept/tfl/sites/terryfoxlab.ca/files/Takei%20Lab/15310905_10157821629600313_985194538_o.jpg)
![Catherine (WIRM, Davos, Switzerland)](https://www.bccrc.ca/dept/tfl/sites/terryfoxlab.ca/files/Takei%20Lab/_Q0A1640-vi%20%282%29.jpg)
![Catherine & Maryam, Washington](https://www.bccrc.ca/dept/tfl/sites/terryfoxlab.ca/files/Takei%20Lab/20170720_145936.jpg)
![Monica, Catherine & Laura, Tokyo](https://www.bccrc.ca/dept/tfl/sites/terryfoxlab.ca/files/Takei%20Lab/48024948_1030476733815130_3044892961142734848_n.jpg)