title: Interleukin-26: An Emerging Player in Host Defense and Inflammation.
abstract: The production of interleukin (IL)-26 was initially attributed to T cells, and in particular to Th17 cells. However, more recent findings indicate IL-26 production in natural killer (NK) cells, macrophages and fibroblast-like cells as well. It is known that IL-26 binds to the IL-20R1/IL-10R2 receptor complex on certain target cells, where it causes specific intracellular signaling and the secretion of IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α. In line with this type of proinflammatory role, IL-26 also increases chemotaxis of human neutrophils. Interestingly, high levels of IL-26 are present even in normal human airways, and endotoxin exposure further enhances these levels; this indicates involvement in antibacterial host defense. Studies on acute inflammatory disorders are few but there are studies showing the involvement of IL-26 in rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. In conclusion, IL-26 is emerging as a potentially important player in host defense and may also be a pathogenic factor in the chronic inflammatory disorders of humans.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tengvall
authors.forename: Karlhans Fru
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Che
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindén
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology; D002633:Chemotaxis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D053710:Interleukin-10 Receptor beta Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000276:immunology; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000276:immunology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C406767:IL26 protein, human; D053710:Interleukin-10 Receptor beta Subunit; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D016209:Interleukin-8; D007378:Interleukins; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C492510:interleukin-20 receptor