Runx/Cbfβ complexes protect type 2 innate lymphoid cells from exhaustion during allergic airway inflammation

Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) have tissue-resident competence and contribute to the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. Therefore, there should be mechanisms to maintain the capacity of ILC2s to produce TH2 cytokines without exhaustion under chronic inflammatory conditions. Here, we report that Runx proteins are essential to prevent exaggerated activation of ILC2, in part by antagonizing GATA-3 function at steady state. However, during allergic inflammation, the absence of Runx in ILC2s impaired their ability to proliferate and produce effector TH2 cytokines and chemokines, but instead induced expression of T cell exhaustion markers including IL-10 and TIGIT. Thus, Runx proteins protect ILC2s from exhaustion during chronic allergic inflammation.