ILC2s regulate a fibroblast progenitor niche in the pancreas

T Thomas Yip (University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.) J Julie Stockis (University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.) C Charlotte Simpson (University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.) E Erika E. McCartney (University of Toronto, Department of Immunology, Toronto, ON, Canada.) S Shwetha Raghunathan (University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.) M Martha M. Rangel-Sosa (University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.) S Sydney N. Hummel (University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.) J Julia Moreno-Vicente (University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.) G Gianmarco Raddi (University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.) C Celine Garcia (University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.) R Rugile Linkute (University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.) S Silvain Pinaud (University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.) M Maye F. Cheng (University of Toronto, Department of Immunology, Toronto, ON, Canada.) L Lesley A. Hill (Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences and Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.) T T. Michael Underhill (Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences and Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.) H Hans-Reimer Rodewald (Division of Cellular Immunology, German Cancer Research Center; Heidelberg, Germany.) C Christoph Schneider (Department of Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.) C Claus Jørgensen (University of Manchester, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Manchester, UK.) A Andrew N.J. McKenzie (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.) S Sophie E. Acton (Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, UK.) P Patrick Seale (Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.) M Menna R. Clatworthy M Matthew B. Buechler (University of Toronto, Department of Immunology, Toronto, ON, Canada.) T Timotheus Y. F. Halim (University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.)

Abstract

Local fibroblast development and densities influence organ health and disease, although it remains unclear how tissue fibroblast topography is controlled in situ. Here, we defined Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) as key regulators of fibroblast homeostasis in the pancreas. ILC2s colocalized with fibroblasts expressing the genes Pi16 + Dpp4 + Ly6c + in an interstitial niche of the exocrine pancreas, which encapsulates the organ parenchyma. ILC2s specifically regulated the expansion of Pi16 + Dpp4 + Ly6c + fibroblasts, which have progenitor capacity, while restraining differentiated intraparenchymal Col15a1 + fibroblasts during inflammation. These circuits reinforced fibroblast numbers after injury and set an inflammatory threshold. The ILC2 and Pi16 + Dpp4 + Ly6c + fibroblast progenitor niche expanded around tumors and controlled cancer-associated fibroblast ontogeny and density. Hence, ILC2-fibroblast dialogue represents a regulatory node that locally orchestrates tissue homeostasis and pathology.

Article Details

Journal Science
Volume / Issue Vol. 393, Issue 6806
Published July 02, 2026
ISSN 0036-8075
Publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science

Journal Info

Science

American Association for the Advancement of Science

ISSN: 0036-8075 Social Sciences

Authors (24)

T

Thomas Yip

University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.

J

Julie Stockis

University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.

C

Charlotte Simpson

University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.

E

Erika E. McCartney

University of Toronto, Department of Immunology, Toronto, ON, Canada.

S

Shwetha Raghunathan

University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.

M

Martha M. Rangel-Sosa

University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.

S

Sydney N. Hummel

University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.

J

Julia Moreno-Vicente

University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.

G

Gianmarco Raddi

University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.

C

Celine Garcia

University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.

R

Rugile Linkute

University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.

S

Silvain Pinaud

University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.

M

Maye F. Cheng

University of Toronto, Department of Immunology, Toronto, ON, Canada.

L

Lesley A. Hill

Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences and Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

T

T. Michael Underhill

Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences and Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

H

Hans-Reimer Rodewald

Division of Cellular Immunology, German Cancer Research Center; Heidelberg, Germany.

C

Christoph Schneider

Department of Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

C

Claus Jørgensen

University of Manchester, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Manchester, UK.

A

Andrew N.J. McKenzie

MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.

S

Sophie E. Acton

Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, UK.

P

Patrick Seale

Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

M

Menna R. Clatworthy

M

Matthew B. Buechler

University of Toronto, Department of Immunology, Toronto, ON, Canada.

T

Timotheus Y. F. Halim

University of Cambridge, CRUK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK.