Spatial and functional diversity of innate lymphoid cells in the human female genital tract may contribute to antiviral responses to HIV.

Abstract

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are tissue-resident lymphocytes specialized in cytokine secretion that lack antigen-specific receptors. The contribution of ILCs to antiviral mucosal immunity in humans, particularly in the female genital tract (FGT), remains unexplored. Here we resolved human FGT ILC diversity by spectral flow cytometry and CITE-seq, spatial location within genital anatomical regions using ChipCytometry, and determined homeostatic function and antiviral responses. We uncovered spatial and functional specializations of genital ILC subsets under homeostasis, with compartmentalized age-related and pregnancy-related changes. CD161 expression differentially discriminated ILC subsets preloaded with cytokines at steady state. We identified a unique NKp44+CCR6+ ILC3 subset in the endometrium that actively degranulated at homeostasis and was located in lymphoid aggregates surrounded by B cells and T cells. By contrast, ILC1s were found scattered, enriched in the ectocervix and located close to the epithelium. Following in vitro HIV stimulation, genital ILCs displayed rapid subset-specific antiviral responses. These findings reveal distinct tissue and subset-specific features of FGT ILCs and their capacity to immediately respond to viral stimuli, providing a foundation for future studies to determine the potential role of ILCs in mucosal immune protection in the FGT.