Increased numbers of activated group 2 innate lymphoid cells in the airways of patients with severe asthma and persistent airway eosinophilia

SG Smith, R Chen, M Kjarsgaard, C Huang… - Journal of Allergy and …, 2016 - Elsevier
Background In patients with severe eosinophilic asthma, local maturation rather than
systemic recruitment of mature cells might contribute to persistent airway eosinophilia.
Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are a major source of type 2 cytokines (IL-5 and IL-13)
and can facilitate eosinophilic inflammatory responses in mouse models of asthma in the
absence of CD4+ lymphocytes. This study investigated the potential role of ILC2s in driving
chronic airway eosinophilia in patients with severe asthma, despite regular high-dose oral …