|
|
 |
 |
| |
 Printable version |
IL-37: a new anti-inflammatory cytokine of the IL-1 family |
European Cytokine Network. Volume 22, Number 3, 127-47, September 2011, Review article
|
 Free Article
|
Author(s) : Diana Boraschi, Davide Lucchesi, Stefan Hainzl, Maria Leitner, Elisabeth Maier, Doris Mangelberger, Gertie J. Oostingh, Tobias Pfaller, Claudia Pixner, Gernot Posselt, Paola Italiani, Marcel F. Nold, Claudia A. Nold-Petry, Philip Bufler, Charles A. Dinarello |
Summary : The IL-1 family of cytokines encompasses eleven proteins that each share a similar β-barrel structure and bind to Ig-like receptors. Some of the IL-1-like cytokines have been well characterised, and play key roles in the development and regulation of inflammation. Indeed, IL-1α (IL-1F1), IL-1β (IL-1F2), and IL-18 (IL-1F4) are well-known inflammatory cytokines active in the initiation of the inflammatory reaction and in driving Th1 and Th17 inflammatory responses. In contrast, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra, IL-1F3) and the receptor antagonist binding to IL-1Rrp2 (IL-36Ra, IL-1F5) reduce inflammation by blocking the binding of the agonist receptor ligands. In the case of IL-37 (IL-1F7), of which five different splice variants have been described, less is known of its function, and identification of the components of a heterodimeric receptor complex remains unclear. Some studies suggest that IL-37 binds to the α chain of the IL-18 receptor in a non-competitive fashion, and this may explain some of the disparate biological effects that have been reported for mice deficient in the IL-18R. The biological properties of IL-37 are mainly those of down-regulating inflammation, as assessed in models where human IL-37 is expressed in mice. In this review, an overview of the role of IL-37 in the regulation of inflammation is presented. The finding that IL-37 also locates to the nucleus, as do IL-1α and IL-33, for receptor-independent organ/tissue-specific regulation of inflammation is also reviewed. |
Keywords : IL-37, IL-1F7, IL-1 cytokines, inflammation, IL-18, IL-18BP |
|
