Elsevier

Mucosal Immunology

Volume 4, Issue 5, September 2011, Pages 496-502
Mucosal Immunology

Article
A role for interleukin-33 in TH2-polarized intestinal inflammation?

https://doi.org/10.1038/mi.2011.22Get rights and content
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Abstract

Interleukin 33 (IL-33) is a recently discovered cytokine member of the IL-1 superfamily that is widely expressed in fixed tissue cells, including endothelial and epithelial cells. IL-33 induces helper T cells, mast cells, eosinophils, and basophils to produce type-2 cytokines through binding to the ST2/IL-1 receptor accessory protein complex. Recent studies have shown IL-33 to be upregulated in intestinal parasite infection and in epithelial cells and myofibroblasts in ulcerative colitis (UC). The findings point to a role for IL-33 in directing the TH2-type immune responses in these types of mucosal inflammation. As the IL-33/ST2 receptor axis can be manipulated by various blocking antibodies, this could be a potential therapeutic target in the future treatment of UC.

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Published online: 25 5 2011

Supplementary information The online version of this article (doi:10.1038/mi.2011.22) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.