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Physiological and Pathological Properties of Interleukin-22 in Liver Diseases

  • Cytokines That Affect Liver Fibrosis and Activation of Hepatic Myofibroblasts (Tatiana Kisseleva, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Pathobiology Reports

Abstract

Interleukin-22 (IL-22) belongs to IL-10 cytokine family which was initially described as a T helper 1 (Th1) and 17 (Th17) cytokine. Subsequently, numerous other sources were identified. The liver is often described as an immunological organ due to its particular contain in a large spectrum of immune cells of which certain subsets produce IL-22. In liver, expression of IL-22 receptor subunit-1 (IL-22R1), is restricted to hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, and liver progenitor cells which are involved in several hepatic diseases. IL-22 is known to play protective roles mainly through signal transducer of activator of transcription-3 (STAT3)-dependant signaling pathways. However, possible deleterious effects of IL-22 at specific stages along with the progression of the diseases and according to the etiology were reported. This review summarizes the current understandings of both beneficial and deleterious facets of IL-22 in liver diseases and discusses its putative targeting as a strategy for further clinical trials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Liver Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai, 200127, China

    Xiaoni Kong & Qiang Xia

  2. State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

    Wenjun Liu

  3. University of Paris-Est-Créteil, Créteil, France

    Fouad Lafdil

  4. INSERM U955, IMRB Hôpital Henri Mondor, 51 Avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94000, Créteil, France

    Fouad Lafdil

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  1. Xiaoni Kong
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  2. Wenjun Liu
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  3. Qiang Xia
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  4. Fouad Lafdil
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Correspondence to Xiaoni Kong or Fouad Lafdil.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Cytokines That Affect Liver Fibrosis and Activation of Hepatic Myofibroblasts.

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Kong, X., Liu, W., Xia, Q. et al. Physiological and Pathological Properties of Interleukin-22 in Liver Diseases. Curr Pathobiol Rep 3, 307–313 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40139-015-0088-9

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