Initial characterisation of innate lymphoid cells after inducible deletion of RORα (360G-Wellcome-202411_Z_16_Z)

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a recently discovered family of cells implicated in key immune processes such as barrier repair and tissue homeostasis. Despite enormous advances in the past few years in the characterisation of this family along with identification of several key functions, much of the basic biology of these cells remains unclear. In particular, how certain transcription factors underpin the functions of these cells is an emerging area of focus in the field, addressing regulation of key mechanisms as well as potential plasticity. Such studies are fuelled by mouse models that enable targeting of key transcription factors specifically within ILCs. The Withers lab has recently generated mice enabling the inducible deletion of RAR-related orphan receptors in mice, key transcription factors in ILC. The fundamental aim of this studentship is to perform an initial characterisation of mice in which the RAR-related orphan receptor alpha (RORalpha) is inducibly-deleted in ILC. How loss of this transcription factor impacts on the number, phenotype, cytokine production and plasticity of group 3 ILCs will be assessed in both lymphoid and non-lymphoid mouse tissues. These cells will be compared with group 2 ILCs where a key role for RORalpha in development has been identified.