Cardiac innate lymphoid cells: the role of innate immune regulation in cardiovascular diseases

In recent years, research on innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in pericardial adipose tissue has advanced significantly. These studies have revealed their dual role in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis and mediating disease progression. Although the contribution of ILCs to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has garnered increasing attention, their heterogeneous nature complicates the analysis of their phenotypic and developmental characteristics. Furthermore, substantial differences in their composition, distribution, and function exist between murine and human hearts, highlighting the need for further investigation into how the high plasticity of ILCs influences disease processes. In this review, we examine the subpopulations, distribution patterns, and multifaceted roles of ILCs in the heart during CVDs, and discuss potential strategies to modulate ILC plasticity. We anticipate that, in the future, more precise immune modulation of ILCs will emerge as a promising therapeutic approach for CVDs, ultimately benefiting public health.