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Review
. 2016 Jan 13:3:85.
doi: 10.3389/fcell.2015.00085. eCollection 2015.

Interleukin-22 Signaling in the Regulation of Intestinal Health and Disease

Olivia B Parks  1 , Derek A Pociask  2 , Zerina Hodzic  1 , Jay K Kolls  2 , Misty Good  3
Affiliations
Review

Interleukin-22 Signaling in the Regulation of Intestinal Health and Disease

Olivia B Parks et al. Front Cell Dev Biol. .

Abstract

Interleukin (IL)-22 is a member of the IL-10 family of cytokines that has been extensively studied since its discovery in 2000. This review article aims to describe the cellular sources and signaling pathways of this cytokine as well as the functions of IL-22 in the intestine. In addition, this article describes the roles of IL-22 in the pathogenesis of several gastrointestinal diseases, including inhibition of inflammation and barrier defense against pathogens within the intestine. Since many of the functions of IL-22 in the intestine are incompletely understood, this review is meant to assess our current understanding of the roles of IL-22 and provide new opportunities for inquiry to improve human intestinal health and disease.

Keywords: barrier defense; epithelial cells; gastrointestinal tract; interleukin-22.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic of IL-22 as a key regulator of the interaction of the microbiota with the intestinal epithelium. IL-22 is produced by CD4+ and γδ T cells as well as type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s). IL-22 acts on intestinal epithelial cells inducing fucosylation and the release of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), regulating the microbiota, and maintaining gut barrier homeostasis. IL-22 can act synergistically with IL-17 and TNF-α to activate a proinflammatory response to certain pathogens.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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