Heterogeneity of Innate Immunity

ABSTRACT Innate immune cells are essential components of the body's defense system; they are capable of developing immune memory and differentiating into distinct subtypes in response to varying microenvironmental cues, thereby performing specialized immune functions. Similar to innate lymphoid cells, which have been identified in previous studies, innate immune cells demonstrate heterogeneity and are subject to modulation by the immune microenvironment. In the present review, we introduce the novel concept of categorizing innate immune responses according to the influence of the distinct cytokines that they release on adaptive immune cell differentiation. This framework underscores the interconnected and complex nature of immune responses, offering a fresh outlook for comprehensively understanding immune response mechanisms as well as therapeutic interventions for diseases.