The Function Of ThPOK In Innate Lymphoid Cells

Innate lymphoid cells(ILCs)are the newly found immune cells that have adaptive immune cells' function.Although ILCs do not express the antigen-specific receptors,they have similar functions to T cells.Thus,innate lymphoid cells are the mirror of T cells.According to their different surface markers and different functions,innate lymphoid cells are divided into three groups.They are group 1 ILCs which include ILC1 and NK,group 2 ILCs and group 3 ILCs.ILC1s express T-bet and produce IFN-,y to fight against intracellular pathogens.GATA-3hi ILC2s,like Th2 cells,secrete IL-4,IL-5,IL-9,IL-13 and the epidermal-growth factor-like molecule amphiregulin to control helminth infection.ROR?t+ ILC3s which correspond to Th17 cells can produce LT?1?2,IL-17A,IL-22,GM-CSF and TNFa.ILCs share many important transcription factors with T cells,and ThPOK is one of them.ThPOK is a zinc-finger protein that belongs to POZ protein family.It is important to T cell lineage commitment.Thus,we wonder whether ThPOK is involved in the development and function of innate lymphoid cells.In this study,we find that ThPOK is highly expressed in ILC1 and ILC3 and it is important for the function of ILC1 and ILC3 through which way ThPOK is involved in the intestinal immune.