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ILCs are an emerging family of innate immune cells that exhibit phenotypic and functional heterogeneity that is remarkably similar to effector subsets of CD4+ Th cells [1, 2]. As such, ILCs can be placed into three groups based on expression of cytokines, cytokine receptors, and transcription factors, including T-bet+ Group 1 ILCs that are comparable with Th1 cells, GATA3+ Group 2 ILCs that are comparable with Th2 cells, and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γt+ Group 3 ILCs that are comparable with Th17 cells and Th22 cells [1, 2]. Early studies investigating the functional potential of ILCs have identified that similar to CD4+ T cell effector subsets, ILCs can orchestrate context-dependent immunity or tissue inflammation via production of canonical effector cytokines. For example, Group 3 ILCs can promote IL-17- or IL-22-dependent antibacterial immunity and intestinal inflammation, whereas Group 2 ILCs can promote IL-5- or IL-13-dependent antiparasite immunity and allergic inflammation [3–7]. However, whether ILC subsets also have novel functions that extend beyond rapid expression of classical CD4+T cell-associated effector cytokines remains poorly understood.

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