Research progress on interleukin-33 and its roles in the central nervous system
Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, Institute of Acupuncture Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
Abstract
Interleukin-33 (IL-33), a newly recognized IL-1 family member, is expressed by various tissues and cells. Since it can combine with chromosomes, IL-33 is regarded as an intracellular transcription repressor. Upon proinflammatory stimulation, it is released as an extracellular cytokine to function as an alarmin to dangerous signals. The IL-33 receptor is a heterodimer complex composed of ST2 and the IL-1 receptor accessory protein, the latter being conserved in other IL-1 family members. The IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway plays critical roles in inflammatory and immune diseases, as well as in central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Recently, there has been an increasing focus on IL-33, particularly on its production and functions in the CNS. The present review mainly focuses on progress in research on IL-33, especially its roles in the CNS.
Keywords
interleukin-33; ST2; signaling; central nervous system
