title: The interleukin-10 family of cytokines.
abstract: A family of interleukin-10 (IL-10)-related cytokines has emerged, comprising a series of herpesviral and poxviral members and several cellular sequence paralogs, including IL-19, IL-20, IL-22 [IL-10-related T-cell-derived inducible factor (IL-TIF)], IL-24 [melanoma differentiation-associated antigen 7 (MDA-7)] and IL-26 (AK155). Although the predicted helical structure of these homodimeric molecules is conserved, certain receptor-binding residues are variable and define the interaction with specific heterodimers of different type-2 cytokine receptors. This leads, through the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) factors, to diverse biological effects. For example, whereas IL-10 is a well-studied pleiotropic immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory cytokine, IL-22/IL-TIF mediates acute-phase response signals in hepatocytes and IL-20 induces the hyperproliferation of keratinocytes, which has been proposed as a pathogenic mechanism of psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Hygiene-Institut, Abteilung Virologie, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fickenscher
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hör
authors.forename: Heide
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Küpers
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knappe
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wittmann
authors.forename: Heinrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sticht
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007378:Interleukins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000276:immunology; D053701:Receptors, Interleukin-10
chemical_list: C406767:IL26 protein, human; D007378:Interleukins; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D053701:Receptors, Interleukin-10; D016753:Interleukin-10