Interleukin-20 exacerbates acute hepatitis and bacterial infection by downregulating IκBζ target genes in hepatocytes.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Interleukin (IL)-20 and IL-22 belong to the IL-10 family. IL-10 is a well-documented anti-inflammatory cytokine while IL-22 is well known for epithelial protection and its antibacterial function, showing great therapeutic potential for organ damage; however, the function of IL-20 remains largely unknown.

Methods

Il20 knockout (Il20^-/-) mice and wild-type littermates were generated and injected with Concanavalin A (ConA) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K.P.) to induce acute hepatitis and bacterial infection, respectively.

Results

Il20^-/- mice were resistant to acute hepatitis and exhibited selectively elevated levels of the hepatoprotective cytokine IL-6. Such selective inhibition of IL-6 by IL-20 was due to IL-20 targeting hepatocyte

SUBMITTER: He Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8323118 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature