Interleukin 22 receptor 1 expression in pancreas islets.
OBJECTIVE
Interleukin (IL) 22 is a recently identified T-cell-derived cytokine. IL-22 binds at the cell surface to a heterodimer receptor complex composed of IL-22 receptor (R) 1 and IL-10R2. In this study, we performed immunohistochemical analyses for IL-22R1 expression in human pancreatic tissue.


METHODS
Normal human pancreatic tissue (n = 8) was immunostained with antihuman IL-22R1 antibodies following standard immunohistochemical procedures.


RESULTS
In the normal human pancreas, IL-22R1 was expressed in the islets of Langerhans. IL-22R1 was not expressed by the acinar cells and ductal epithelium. Double-immunostaining experiments showed that the majority of insulin-expressing beta cells and glucagon-expressing alpha cells were immunopositive for IL-22R1.


CONCLUSIONS
The islets of Langerhans are the local site for IL-22R1 expression in the human pancreas. It may be that the T-cell-mediated immune response modulates cell islet function through IL-22 signaling.
Shioya
Makoto
M
Department of Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan.
Andoh
Akira
A
Kakinoki
Satoe
S
Nishida
Atsushi
A
Fujiyama
Yoshihide
Y
D050416:Glucagon-Secreting Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000737:chemistry*; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000032:analysis*
D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; C415369:interleukin-22 receptor