Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026
08:32
Enrichment and Characterization of the Tumor Immune and Non-immune Microenvironments in Established Subcutaneous Murine Tumors
Published on: June 7, 2018
10.4K
Interleukin-33 and ST2 Signaling in Tumor Microenvironment
Jaewoo Hong1, Soohyun Kim2, P Charles Lin1
11 Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland.
Summary
Interleukin-33 (IL-33), an alarmin released during cell injury, plays a key role in inflammation and various cancers. Targeting the IL-33/ST2 pathway shows promise for cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is an IL-1 family cytokine and alarmin released by airway cells upon injury from environmental stimuli.
- IL-33 modulates Th2 and Th1 inflammatory responses, affecting immune cells like mast cells, eosinophils, T cells, and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs).
- It functions as an endogenous danger signal, contributing to inflammatory processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the emerging role of Interleukin-33 (IL-33) in cancer development and progression.
- To investigate the association between the IL-33/ST2 pathway and tumor growth in various cancers.
- To evaluate the IL-33/ST2 pathway as a potential therapeutic target in oncology.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent findings on IL-33 expression and function in cancer.
- Analysis of the correlation between IL-33/ST2 expression in tumor tissues and cancer progression.
- Evaluation of existing literature on the IL-33/ST2 pathway's involvement in tumorigenesis.
Main Results:
- IL-33 is implicated in the pathogenesis of lung cancer, liver cancer, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
- Elevated expression of IL-33 and its receptor ST2 in cancer tissues is linked to tumor growth and progression.
- The IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway is actively involved in the development and advancement of several cancer types.
Conclusions:
- The IL-33/ST2 pathway is a significant factor in the progression of multiple cancers.
- Targeting the IL-33/ST2 pathway presents a promising therapeutic strategy for treating various malignancies.
- Further research into IL-33's role in cancer could lead to novel anti-cancer therapies.
Related Concept Videos
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
7.8K
Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
7.8K
01:45Endocrine Signaling
68.1K
Endocrine cells produce hormones to communicate with remote target cells found in other organs. The hormone reaches these distant areas using the circulatory system. This exposes the whole organism to the hormone but only those cells expressing hormone receptors or target cells are affected. Thus, endocrine signaling induces slow responses from its target cells but these effects also last longer.
68.1K
01:30Bacterial Signaling
40.8K
Bacterial signaling can occur within bacteria (intracellular) or between bacteria (intercellular). At times, a group of bacteria behaves like a community. To achieve this, they engage in quorum sensing, the perception of higher cell density that causes changes in gene expression. Quorum sensing involves both extracellular and intracellular signaling. The signaling cascade starts with a molecule called an autoinducer (AI). Individual bacteria produce AIs that move out of the bacterial cell...
40.8K
01:28Yeast Signaling
17.3K
Yeasts are single-celled organisms, but unlike bacteria, they are eukaryotes (cells with a nucleus). Cell signaling in yeast is similar to signaling in other eukaryotic cells. A ligand, such as a protein or a small molecule released from a yeast cell, attaches to a receptor on the cell surface. The binding stimulates second-messenger kinases to activate or inactivate transcription factors that further regulate gene expression. Many of the yeast intracellular signaling cascades have similar...
17.3K
02:03What is Cell Signaling?
130.9K
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate to respond to the environment.
130.9K
01:21Paracrine Signaling
59.6K
Paracrine signaling allows cells to communicate with their immediate neighbors via secretion of signaling molecules. Such a signal can only trigger a response in nearby target cells because the signal molecules degrade quickly or are inactivated if not taken up. Prominent examples of paracrine signaling include nitric oxide signaling in blood vessels, synaptic signaling of neurons, the blood clotting system, tissue repair/wound healing, and local allergic skin reactions. Nitric oxide as a...
59.6K