Interleukin-25: a two-edged sword in the control of immune-inflammatory responses.
Interleukin-25 (IL-25), the newest member of the IL-17 cytokine family, initiates, promotes, and augments Th2 cell-mediated immune responses, thereby contributing to allergic disease and defense against helminthic parasites. More recent studies have shown that IL-25 can control the functional activity of non-T cells and suppress the initiation and progression of immune-mediated pathologies such as endotoxemia, colitis, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and diabetes. Taken together with the fact that IL-17 family members can form homo and heterodimers with different functions, the IL-17 family encapsulates the subtle pro and anti-inflammatory function of cytokines, which need to be understood before anti-cytokine therapy can be exploited rationally in the clinic.
Monteleone
Giovanni
G
Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Università Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. Gi.Monteleone@Med.uniroma2.it
Pallone
Francesco
F
Macdonald
Thomas T
TT
D000818:Animals; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000502:physiology; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D053722:Receptors, Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000502:physiology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D020381:Interleukin-17; D053722:Receptors, Interleukin-17