title: IL-37 a New IL-1 Family Member Emerges as a Key Suppressor of Asthma Mediated by Mast Cells.
abstract: In 1986, we reported a multiple biological effect of IL-1 including immunological, inflammatory, and tumor killing activity. Since then other IL-1 family cytokines have been discovered, some with inflammatory and other with anti-inflammatory activity. In this review article, we speculate on the possible inhibitory effect of IL-37 in the light of new findings. IL-37, formerly termed IL-1 family member 7 (IL-1F7), binding IL-18 receptor α chain, acts as a cytokine with intracellular as well as extracellular functionality and as a natural inhibitor of immune responses and inflammation. IL-37 inhibits many pro-inflammatory cytokine and increases anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10. Asthma pathogenesis involves multiple cell types including mast cells, which are important cellular constituents of the human innate and adaptive immunity. IL-37 has an impact on inflammatory cytokines generated by mast cells and is beneficial for and protective in asthma. However, the precise mechanism(s), safety, and tolerability of IL-37 are unclear and still remain a mystery.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  GBP (Guanylate Binding Proteins); HMGB1 (High Mobility Group Box protein 1); NLRP (Nucleotide-like Receptor Pyrin domain 1); ASC (Apoptosis-associated Speck-like protein containing CARD, Caspase Recruitment Domain); FGF2 (Fibroblast Growth Factor 2).
authors.affiliation: a Immunology Division, Postgraduate Medical School, University of Chieti-Pescara , Chieti , Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.affiliation: b UOS Clinica dei Pazienti del Territorio, Policlinico Gemelli , Roma , Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ronconi
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pharmacology , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caraffa
authors.affiliation: d Center of Intensive Rehabilitation, "S. Agnese" , Pineto ( TE ), Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lessiani
authors.affiliation: e Department of Neurology , Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa , Iowa City , IA , USA.
authors.forename: Kempuraj
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Duraisamy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D024243:HMGB1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D024243:HMGB1 Protein; C508587:IL37 protein, human; D007375:Interleukin-1
keywords: Anti-inflammatory; IL-1; IL-37; asthma; mast cells