ILC2-driven innate immune checkpoint mechanism antagonizes NK cell antimetastatic function in the lung

Nat Immunol. 2020 Sep;21(9):998-1009. doi: 10.1038/s41590-020-0745-y. Epub 2020 Aug 3.

Abstract

Metastasis constitutes the primary cause of cancer-related deaths, with the lung being a commonly affected organ. We found that activation of lung-resident group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) orchestrated suppression of natural killer (NK) cell-mediated innate antitumor immunity, leading to increased lung metastases and mortality. Using multiple models of lung metastasis, we show that interleukin (IL)-33-dependent ILC2 activation in the lung is involved centrally in promoting tumor burden. ILC2-driven innate type 2 inflammation is accompanied by profound local suppression of interferon-γ production and cytotoxic function of lung NK cells. ILC2-dependent suppression of NK cells is elaborated via an innate regulatory mechanism, which is reliant on IL-5-induced lung eosinophilia, ultimately limiting the metabolic fitness of NK cells. Therapeutic targeting of IL-33 or IL-5 reversed NK cell suppression and alleviated cancer burden. Thus, we reveal an important function of IL-33 and ILC2s in promoting tumor metastasis via their capacity to suppress innate type 1 immunity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Eosinophils / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Interleukin-33 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-5 / metabolism
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Lung / immunology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Th2 Cells / immunology

Substances

  • Interleukin-33
  • Interleukin-5