Entrez 64806 | Ensembl ENSG00000166090 | |
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Aliases IL25, IL17E, IL-25, interleukin 25 External IDs MGI: 2155888 HomoloGene: 15429 GeneCards: IL25 | ||
Interleukin-25 (IL-25) – also known as interleukin-17E (IL-17E) – is a protein that in humans is encoded by the IL25 gene.
Contents
Function
IL-25 is a cytokine that shares the sequence similarity with IL-17. This cytokine can induce NF-κB activation, and stimulate the production of IL-8. Both this cytokine and IL17B are ligands for the cytokine receptor IL17RB. Studies of the similar gene in mice suggested that this cytokine may be a proinflammatory cytokine favoring Th2-type immune response. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene encoding distinct isoforms have been reported.
IL-25 is a cytokine that belongs to the IL-17 cytokine family and is secreted by type 2 helper T cells (Th2) and mast cells.
Clinical significance
IL-25 induces the production of other cytokines, including IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in multiple tissues, which stimulate the expansion of eosinophils. This cytokine is an important molecule controlling immunity of the gut and has been implicated in chronic inflammation associated with the gastrointestinal tract. IL-25 can kill some types of breast cancer cells.
Further, the IL-25 gene has been identified in a chromosomal region associated with autoimmune diseases of the gut such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), although no direct evidence suggests that IL-25 plays any role in this disease.
IL-25 has potent antitumor activity in vivo in several human cancers including melanoma, breast, lung, colon, and pancreatic cancers, suggesting the potential clinical use of IL-17E as an anticancer agent.