Interleukin (IL)-9 is a soluble factor secreted by immune cells into the microenvironment. Originally identified as a mediator of allergic responses, IL-9 has been detected in recent years in several tumor niches. In solid tumors, it mainly promotes anti-tumor immune responses, while in hematologic malignancies, it sustains the growth and survival of neoplastic cells. IL-9 has been recently implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying its contribution to this complex neoplasia are still unclear. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of IL-9 in the tumor microenvironment, with a focus on its role in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Keywords: CLL; IL-9; cytokine; hematologic malignancies; tumor microenvironment.