title: Modulation of autoimmunity by the latest interleukins (with special emphasis on IL-32).
abstract: Interleukins (IL) and other cytokines display a number of overlapping abilities to stimulate cells of various lineages and differentiation stages. Most notably, IL-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-6, IL-15, IL-17, IL-18, IL-21, IL-25, IL-25, IL-31 and IL-32 contribute in concert to pathophysiological events. These include cell death, inflammation, allergy and autoimmunity. Up-regulation of either T helper (TH)1 or TH2 cells is pathogenic, and these subsets downregulate each other. The expression of chemokines/cytokines by endothelial cells is also crucial to autoimmunity by trafficking inflammatory T cells into the central-nervous system. IL-32 (previously termed NK transcript 4), is the newest inflammatory cytokine produced by mitogen-activated lymphocytes, interferon-gamma activated epithelial cells and IL-12, IL-18 and IL-32-activated NK cells. This induces TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 and 2 C-X-C chemokine family members involved in several autoimmune diseases. In addition, IL-32 activates arachidonic acid metabolism in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by stimulating the release of prostaglandins. Discovery of this supplementary inflammatory cytokine further complicates the network of inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Division, Department of Oncology and Neuroscience, University of Chieti, Via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti, Italy. pconti@unich.it <pconti@unich.it>
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Youinou
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Theoharides
mesh_terms: D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000276:immunology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018448:Models, Immunological; D000098546:Interleukin-21
chemical_list: C496971:IL32 protein, human; D019409:Interleukin-15; D007378:Interleukins; D000098546:Interleukin-21