Immune checkpoints on innate lymphoid cells

Abstract : In this issue of JEM, Taylor et al. (https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20161653) describe PD-1 as a critical negative regulator of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC-2s). PD-1 intrinsically controls proliferation and cytokine production of both mouse and human ILC-2s. PD-1 signaling inhibits STAT5 phosphorylation and the removal of this brake by knocking down PD-1 expression or by using anti-PD-1 blocking antibodies, translated in vivo into better clearance of helminth worm infection in mice.