Table 1.

Main characteristics of ILC subsets

ILC subsets	Surface markers	Transcription factors	Effector mediators	Immune function
NK	NCR, NK1.1, KLRG1, CD122, NKG2D	T-bet, Eomes, NFIL3	Perforin, granzyme B	Fight with intracellular pathogens like virus; anti-tumor immunity
ILC1	NCR, NK1.1, TRAIL, CD200R, CD122, CD160, CD103, CD39	T-bet, Eomes, NFIL3	IFN-γ	Defense against intracellular pathogens, such as virus and protozoan
ILC2	CD127, ST2, ICOS, CRTH2, MHC-II, Sca-1	Gata3	IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, IL-13	Expel extracellular parasites and involve in allergic airway inflammation
ILC3	NCR, RANKL, IL-23R, CD49d, MHC-II	RORγt, T-bet	IL-17, IL-22, GM-CSF	Combat extracellular microbes, such as bacteria and fungi
LTi	CD127, CD117, CCR6, RANKL, IL-23R, MHC-II	RORγt	IL-17, IL-22, TNF, lymphotoxin	Formation of secondary lymphoid structures