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A catch-22: Interleukin-22 and cancer
Pedro Hernandez1,2,3, Konrad Gronke1,3,4, Andreas Diefenbach1
1Institute of Microbiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
European Journal of Immunology
|November 28, 2017
Summary
Immune cells, like group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), produce interleukin-22 (IL-22) to maintain epithelial barrier integrity and promote tissue repair, rather than inflammation. IL-22 is a potential therapeutic target for various conditions.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Epithelial barriers constantly interact with the environment, facing frequent integrity challenges.
- Immune cells near epithelial surfaces sense environmental cues without causing inflammation.
- These immune cells produce mediators that support barrier integrity and repair.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the diverse roles of interleukin-22 (IL-22) in epithelial biology.
- To discuss IL-22's involvement in malignant transformation, tumor growth, wound healing, and tissue repair.
- To explore IL-22 as a potential therapeutic target.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on IL-22 and epithelial-immune interactions.
- Analysis of IL-22's function in various physiological and pathological contexts.
- Discussion of IL-22's mechanism of action via its receptor on non-hematopoietic cells.
Main Results:
- IL-22, primarily produced by group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), plays a critical role in epithelial cell function.
- IL-22 influences epithelial cell malignant transformation, tumor progression, and tissue repair processes.
- The receptor for IL-22 is specifically expressed on non-hematopoietic cells, highlighting targeted communication.
Conclusions:
- IL-22 is a key mediator produced by immune cells that promotes epithelial barrier integrity and repair.
- Understanding IL-22's multifaceted roles is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies.
- IL-22 represents a promising target for interventions in diseases involving epithelial dysfunction.
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