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Interleukins
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Interleukins are a group of cytokines (secreted signaling molecules) that were first seen to be expressed by white blood cells (leukocytes, hence the -leukin) as a means of communication (inter-). The name is something of a relic though (the term was coined by Dr. Paetkau, University of Victoria); it has since been found that interleukins are produced by a wide variety of bodily cells. The function of the immune system depends in a large part on interleukins, and rare deficiencies of a number of them have been described, all featuring autoimmune diseases or immune deficiency.
List
List
A list of interleukins:
| Name | Source | Function |
| IL-1 | macrophages | small amounts induce acute phase reaction, large amounts induce fever. |
| IL-2 | TH1-cells | stimulates growth and differentiation of T cell response. Can be used in immunotherapy to treat cancer or suppressed for transplant patients. |
| IL-3 | T cells | stimulates bone marrow stem cells |
| IL-4 | TH2-cells, just activated naive CD4+ cell, memory CD4+ cells | involved in proliferation of B cells and the development of T cells and mast cells. Important role in allergic response (IgE) |
| IL-5 | TH2-cells | role in differentiation of B cells, eosinophil production, and IgA production |
| IL-6 | macrophages, TH2-cells | induces acute phase reaction |
| IL-7 | stromal cells of the red marrow and thymus | involved in B, T, and NK cell survival, development, and homeostasis |
| IL-8 | macrophages, epithelial cells, endothelial cells | Neutrophil chemotaxis |
| IL-9 | T-cells, specifically by CD4+ helper cells | stimulates mast cells |
| IL-10 | monocytes, TH2-cells, mast cells | inhibits Th1 cytokine production |
| IL-11 | bone marrow stroma | acute phase protein production |
| IL-12 | macrophages | NK cell stimulation, Th1 cells induction. May suppress food allergies |
| IL-13 | TH2-cells | Stimulates growth and differentiation of B-Cells (IgE), inhibits TH1-cells and the production of macrophage inflammatory cytokines |
| IL-14 | T cells and certain malignant B cells | controls the growth and proliferation of B cells |
| IL-15 | mononuclear phagocytes (and some other cells) following infection by virus(es). | Induces production of Natural Killer Cells |
| IL-16 | a variety of cells (including lymphocytes and some epithelial cells) | chemoattracts immune cells expressing the cell surface molecule CD4 |
| IL-17 | – | Induces production of inflammatory cytokines |
| IL-18 | macrophages | Induces production of Interferon-gamma (IFNγ) |
| IL-19 | – | |
| IL-20 | – | regulates proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes |
| IL-21 | – | Induces proliferation in natural killer cells (NK) and cytotoxic T cells |
| IL-22 | – | Activates STAT1 and STAT3 and increases production of acute phase proteins such as serum amyloid A, Alpha 1-antichymotrypsin and haptoglobin in hepatoma cell lines |
| IL-23 | – | Increases angiogenesis but reduces CD8 T-cell infiltration |
| IL-24 | – | Plays important roles in tumor suppression, wound healing and psoriasis by influencing cell survival. |
| IL-25 | – | Induces the production IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13, which stimulate eosinophil expansion |
| IL-26 | – | Enhances secretion of IL-10 and IL-8 and cell surface expression of CD54 on epithelial cells |
| IL-27 | – | Regulates the activity of B lymphocyte and T lymphocytes |
| IL-28 | – | Plays a role in immune defense against viruses |
| IL-29 | – | Plays a role in host defenses against microbes |
| IL-30 | – | Forms one chain of IL-27 |
| IL-31 | – | May play a role in inflammation of the skin |
| IL-32 | – | Induces monocytes and macrophages to secrete TNF-α, IL-8 and CXCL2 |
| IL-33 | – | Induces helper T cells to produce type 2 cytokines |
ca:Interleucina de:Interleukin it:Interleuchine he:אינטרלויקין sl:Interlevkin sr:Интерлеукини
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]