Spatial and Temporal Mapping of Human Innate Lymphoid Cells Reveals Elements of Tissue Specificity

We provide a map of human ILC heterogeneity across multiple anatomical sites. Tissue-specific distinctions are particularly apparent for ILC1 populations, whose distribution was markedly altered in obesity or aging. Furthermore, the degree of ILC1 population hetero- geneity differed substantially in lymphoid versus mucosal sites. Together, these analyses comprise a comprehensive characterization of the spatial and temporal dynamics regulating the anatomical distri- bution, subset heterogeneity, and functional poten- tial of ILCs in non-diseased human tissues. Overall design: We present a quantitative analysis of ILC distribution and heterogeneity in lymphoid, mucosal, and metabolic tissues obtained from a diverse cohort of 44 previously non-diseased organ donors over a wide range of ages and body mass indexes (BMIs).