The interaction of intestinal microbiota and innate lymphoid cells in health and disease throughout life

Abstract

Immunity is shaped by commensal microbiota. From early life onwards, microbes colonize mucosal surfaces of the body and thereby trigger the establishment of immune homeostasis and defense mechanisms. Recent evidence reveals that the family of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), which are mainly located in mucosal tissues, are essential in the maintenance of barrier functions as well as in the initiation of an appropriate immune response upon pathogenic infection. In this review, we summarize recent insights on the functional interaction of microbiota and ILCs at steady-state and throughout life. Furthermore, we will discuss the interplay of ILCs and the microbiota in mucosal infections focusing on intestinal immunity.