IL-4-producing ILC2s are required for the differentiation of TH2 cells following Heligmosomoides polygyrus infection

Immunity to many human and murine gastrointestinal helminth parasites requires interleukin-4 (IL-4)-directed type 2 helper (T H 2) differentiation of CD4 + T cells to elicit type-2 immunity. Despite a good understanding of the inflammatory cascade elicited following helminth infection, the initial source of IL-4 is unclear. Previous studies using the rat helminth parasite Nippostronglyus brasiliensis , identified an important role for basophil-derived IL-4 for T H 2 differentiation. However, basophils are redundant for T H 2 differentiation following infection with the natural helminth parasite of mice Heligmosomoides polygyrus , indicating that other sources of IL-4 are required. In this study using H. polygyrus , which is controlled by IL-4-dependent immunity, we identified that group-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) produced significant amounts of IL-4 and IL-2 following H. polygyrus infection. Leukotriene D4 was sufficient to stimulate IL-4 secretion by ILC2s, and the supernatant from activated ILC2s could potently drive T H 2 differentiation in vitro in an IL-4-dependent manner. Furthermore, specific deletion of IL-4 from ILC2s compromised T H 2 differentiation in vivo . Overall, this study highlights a previously unrecognized and important role for ILC2-derived IL-4 for T H 2 differentiation in a natural T H 2-dependent model of human helminthiasis.