Innate lymphoid cells（ILCs）

a newly identified member of the lymphoid population

play a critical role in the transition from innate to adaptive immunity in host defense.ILCs are important in mucosal barrier immunity

tissue homeostasis

and immune regulation throughout the body.Significant alterations in ILC responses in lung diseases have been observed and reported.Emerging evidence has shown that ILCs are importantly involved in the pathogenesis and development of a variety of lung diseases

i.e.

helminth infections

allergic airway inflammation

and airway hyper-responsiveness.However

as a tissue-resident cell population

the role of ILCs in the lung remains poorly characterized.In this review

we discuss the role of ILCs in lung diseases

the mechanisms underlying the ILCmediated regulation of immunity

and the therapeutic potential of modulating ILC responses.