title: Interleukin-23: as a drug target for autoimmune inflammatory diseases.
abstract: Interleukin-23 (IL-23) is a member of the IL-12 family of cytokines with pro-inflammatory properties. Its ability to potently enhance the expansion of T helper type 17 (Th17) cells indicates the responsibility for many of the inflammatory autoimmune responses. Emerging data demonstrate that IL-23 is a key participant in central regulation of the cellular mechanisms involved in inflammation. Both IL-23 and IL-17 form a new axis through Th17 cells, which has evolved in response to human diseases associated with immunoactivation and immunopathogeny, including bacterial or viral infections and chronic inflammation. Targeting of IL-23 or the IL-23 receptor or IL-23 axis is a potential therapeutic approach for autoimmune diseases including psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. The current review focuses on the immunobiology of IL-23 and summarizes the most recent findings on the role of IL-23 in the pre-clinical and ongoing clinical studies.
authors: Centre of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Products and Function, China.
authors: Chunlei
authors: C
authors: Tang
authors: Shu
authors: S
authors: Chen
authors: Hai
authors: H
authors: Qian
authors: Wenlong
authors: W
authors: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053759:Interleukin-23