IL-20 receptor cytokines in autoimmune diseases

IL-19, IL-20, and IL-24 are the members of IL-10 family. They are also known as IL-20 receptor (IL-20R) cytokines as they all signal through the IL-20RA/IL-20RB receptor complex; IL-20 and IL-24 (but not IL-19) also signal through the IL-20RB/IL22RA1 receptor complex. Despite their protein structure homology and shared use of receptor complexes, they display distinct biological functions in immune regulation, tissue homeostasis, host defense, and oncogenesis. IL-20R cytokines can be expressed by both immune cells and epithelial cells, and are important for their interaction. In general, these cytokines are considered to be associated with pathogenesis of chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. However, a number of studies also highlighted their suppressive functions in regulating both innate and adaptive T cell responses and other immune cells, suggesting that the role of IL-20R cytokines in autoimmunity may be complex. In this review, we will discuss the immunobiological functions of IL-20R cytokines and how they are involved in regulating autoimmune diseases.