title: Interleukin-33: a novel mediator with a role in distinct disease pathologies.
abstract: Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a novel member of IL-1 cytokine family. It can act both as a nuclear factor and as a soluble mediator; however, the precise role of IL-33 within the nucleus is still not clear. As a cytokine, IL-33 is suggested to function as an alarmin that is released upon endothelial or epithelial cell damage. As such, IL-33 targets multiple cell types thereby alerting the immune system to endogenous trauma such as physical stress or infection. However, a dysregulated release of IL-33 has a potential to drive distinct pathologies. In this review, we discuss the contribution of IL-33 to the pathophysiology of asthma, arthritis, obesity and atherosclerosis as well as the potential of IL-33 for therapeutic intervention.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurowska-Stolarska
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hueber
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stolarski
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: McInnes
mesh_terms: D001168:Arthritis / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D000067596:Interleukin-33; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C506536:IL33 protein, human; D000067596:Interleukin-33; D007378:Interleukins