title: IL-22 in tissue-protective therapy.
abstract: IL-22, a member of the IL-10 cytokine family, has recently gained significant attention as a protective agent in murine models of diseases driven by epithelial injury. Like its biochemical and functional sibling IL-10, IL-22 elicits cellular activation primarily by engaging the STAT3 signalling pathway. Exclusively produced by leukocytes, but targeting mostly cells of epithelial origin, IL-22 has been proposed as a specialized cytokine messenger acting between leukocytic and non-leukocytic cell compartments. A lack of response in leukocytes to IL-22 mirrors tightly controlled IL-22 receptor expression and probably explains the apparent lack of instant adverse effects after systemic IL-22 administration to mice. Anti-apoptotic, pro-proliferative and pro-regenerative characteristics the major biological properties of this cytokine. Specifically, application of IL-22 is associated with tissue protection and/or regeneration in murine models of infection/microbe-driven inflammation at host/environment interfaces, ventilator-induced lung injury, pancreatitis and liver damage. Overall, preclinical studies would support therapeutic administration of seemingly well-tolerated recombinant IL-22 for treatment of an array of acute diseases manifested in epithelial tissues. However, the feasibility of prolonged administration of this cytokine is expected to be restricted by the tumourigenic potential of the IL-22/STAT3 axis. IL-22, moreover, apparently displays an inherent context-specific capacity to amplify distinct aspects of autoimmune inflammation. Here, the prospects, expectations and restrictions of IL-22 administration in tissue-protective therapy are discussed.
authors.affiliation: pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. h.muehl@em.uni-frankfurt.de
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mühl
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scheiermann
authors.forename: Malte
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bachmann
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Härdle
authors.forename: Anika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heinrichs
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pfeilschifter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D000097043:Interleukin-22
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D007378:Interleukins; D020011:Protective Agents; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D000097043:Interleukin-22; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; C415369:interleukin-22 receptor