IL-33-ST2 Axis in Liver Disease: Progression and Challenge

Mediators Inflamm. 2017:2017:5314213. doi: 10.1155/2017/5314213. Epub 2017 Oct 18.

Abstract

The new member of the IL-1 family, interleukin-33 (IL-33), participates in the progression of a variety of diseases through binding with its receptor ST2. Recently, much clinical evidence and experimental data have indicated that IL-33 is associated with various liver diseases. This review primarily addresses the relationship between IL-33 and several hepatic diseases. IL-33 can alleviate high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance, and IL-33 acts as an alarmin, which quickly triggers the immune system to respond to virus invasion and toxic damage to the liver. However, when liver injury is chronic, IL-33 promotes Th2 reactions and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activity, facilitating progression to liver fibrosis. The complicated functions of IL-33 should be considered before its clinical application.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-33 / genetics
  • Interleukin-33 / metabolism*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / genetics
  • Liver Cirrhosis / metabolism
  • Liver Diseases / genetics
  • Liver Diseases / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • IL33 protein, human
  • Interleukin-33