title: Not-so-sweet sixteen: the role of IL-16 in infectious and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.
abstract: Over the past two decades, our understanding of interleukin-16 (IL-16) has increased substantially. Initial studies characterizing IL-16 as a chemotactic cytokine (but not a chemokine) just scratched the surface of the unique properties of this cytokine. Since then, scientists have determined that IL-16 has a wide range of effects on cells, including upregulation of CD25, induction of cells to progress to the G(1) phase, inhibition of antigen- specific proliferation yet with retained antigen nonspecific proliferative properties, and discovery of a novel neuronal form with unique properties. Recently, a plethora of studies have implicated IL-16 in exacerbation of infectious, immune-mediated, and autoimmune inflammatory disorders, including atopic dermatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, neurodegenerative disorders, and viral infections. Herein, we review the body of evidence supporting a role for IL-16 in infectious and immune-mediated inflammatory disorders and explore the known and possible mechanism of actions in the numerous diseases.
authors.affiliation: Immunobiology, Centocor R and D, Radnor, PA 19087, USA. wglass@cntus.jnj.com
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Glass
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Sarisky
authors.forename: Alfred M Del
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vecchio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D019410:Interleukin-16 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology; D012120:Respiration Disorders
chemical_list: D019410:Interleukin-16