ILC2 promote type 2 immunity in myeloid and epithelial cells of the lung (scRNAseq)

ILC2 contribute to tissue immunity by secreting large amounts of cytokines upon activation. However, their role in steady state tissue homeostasis remains incompletely explored. We tested the impact of ILC2 on tissue immunity in steady state the lungs by scRNA sequencing of myeloid and epithelial cells from mice specifically lacking ILC2 (Nmur1-Cre Id2 fl/fl). Transcripts typically associated with type 2 immunity were reduced in ILC2-deficient mice, indicating a non-redundant role of ILC2 for type 2 tissue immunity that cannot be compensated by other cell types. These findings highlight the importance of ILC2 for balancing tissue homeostasis in the healthy murine lung. Sequencing of RNA was performed from flow cytometry-sorted epithelial (CD45lo/- EpCAM+ ) and myeloid cells (CD45+ (CD11b+ and/or CD11c+)) from the lung of Nmur1-Cre Id2fl/fl mice and littermate controls, using the 10X Genomics platform with the Single Cell 5’ Library & Gel Bead Kit.