Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and natural killer (NK) cells can acquire durable functional changes following activation. These include features of trained immunity, such as epigenetic reprogramming and poised effector states, and of adaptive immune memory, including clonal-like expansion and acquired tissue residency. Together, these features enable adaptation of NK/ILC populations and their contributions to tissue homeostasis, immune surveillance, and secondary responses. Reciprocally, local niches are reshaped by inflammatory episodes, influencing immune cell behavior beyond resolution. Here, we discuss the layers of memory-like features in innate lymphocytes, highlighting emerging questions of NK/ILC differentiation and reprogramming, as well as their residency, interactions, and functions in tissues. We explore how immune experience modulates these processes, with implications for inflammatory diseases, vaccination, and immunotherapy.
Source: Immunity
Institutions: Max Planck Society, University of Würzburg, University of Freiburg
Language: English
Topic: IL-33, ST2, and ILC Pathways
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $10,400
OpenAlex ID: W7154221262