Single-cell transcriptomics reveals the heterogeneous landscape of innate lymphoid cells in zebrafish.

Single-cell transcriptomics uncovers a diverse array of innate lymphoid cell subsets in zebrafish, including both mammalian-like and unique populations, early in development.

• Why it matters: Understanding ILC diversity in lower vertebrates like zebrafish fills a critical gap in knowledge about innate immunity evolution and function across species.
• What they did: Using single-cell RNA sequencing, the study identified multiple ILC subsets, examined their tissue distribution, and explored their development and dependence on hematopoietic stem cells, highlighting the role of il2rβ.
• The result: Findings reveal that zebrafish ILCs are highly diverse, develop early independently of HSCs, and rely on il2rβ for immune functions, offering new insights into vertebrate innate immune mechanisms.