A proinflammatory role for interleukin-22 in the immune response to hepatitis B virus.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

T-helper (Th)17 cells that secrete interleukin (IL)-22 have immunomodulatory and protective properties in the liver and other tissues. IL-22 induces expression of proinflammatory genes but is also mitogenic and antiapoptotic in hepatocytes. Therefore, it could have multiple functions in the immune response to hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Methods

We examined the role of IL-22 in regulating liver inflammation in HBV transgenic mice and measured levels of IL-22 in HBV-infected patients.

Results

In HBV transgenic mice, injection of a single dose of IL-22 increased hepatic expression of proinflammatory genes but did not directly inhibit virus replication. When splenocytes from HBV-immunized mice were transferred into HBV transgenic mice, the severity of the s

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3199295 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature