Thenuocyte is a cell of theinnate immune system that plays an important role in type 2 immune responses that are induced in response tohelminth worm infection or in conditions such asasthma andatopic disease.[1] Nuocytes are amongst the first cells activated in type 2 immune responses and are thought to play important roles in activating and recruiting other cells types through their production of type 2cytokinesinterleukin 4,5 and13.[1] Nuocytes have been observed to proliferate in the presence ofinterleukin 7 (IL-7)in vitro.[2] Nuocytes contribute to the expulsion of helminth worms[1] and to the pathology ofcolitis[3] and allergic airways disease.[4]
The nuocyte was identified at the same time as several other immune cells that play similar roles in type 2 immunity. These include Natural Helper Cells (NHCs),[5] Innate Helper 2 (Ih2) cells[6] andmulti-potent progenitor (MPP) type 2 cells.[7] The exact relationship between these cell types remains contentious[8][9] but all share a type-2-inducing phenotype. MPP type 2 cells appear to differ from the other populations in that they have amyeloid, rather thanlymphoid, origin.[7]
Nuocytes have been shown to have a lymphoid origin and a developmental pathway that is dependent upon the transcription factorRORα andNotch signalling.[10] Pro-T cell progenitors retain nuocyte developmental potential but, unlike T cells, thethymus is dispensable for their development.
^Mirchandani, A; Salmond, R; Liew, F (2012). "Interleukin-33 and the function of innate lymphoid cells".Trends in Immunology.33 (8):389–396.doi:10.1016/j.it.2012.04.005.PMID22609147.
^Neill, DR; McKenzie, AN (May 2011). "Nuocytes and beyond: new insights into helminth expulsion".Trends in Parasitology.27 (5):214–21.doi:10.1016/j.pt.2011.01.001.PMID21292555.
^Saenz, SA; Noti, M; Artis, D (Nov 2010). "Innate immune cell populations function as initiators and effectors in Th2 cytokine responses".Trends in Immunology.31 (11):407–13.doi:10.1016/j.it.2010.09.001.PMID20951092.
