Possible Roles of Interleukin-4 and -13 and Their Receptors in Gastric and Colon Cancer

Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jan 13;22(2):727. doi: 10.3390/ijms22020727.

Abstract

Interleukin (IL)-4 and -13 are structurally and functionally related cytokines sharing common receptor subunits. They regulate immune responses and, moreover, are involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of human neoplasms. Three different receptors have been described for IL-4, but only IL-4 receptor type II (IL-4Rα/IL-13Rα1) is expressed in solid tumors. While IL-13 can also bind to three different receptors, IL-13 receptor type I (IL-4Rα/IL-13Rα1/IL-13Rα2) and type II (IL-4Rα/IL-13Rα1) are expressed in solid tumors. After receptor binding, IL-4 and IL-13 can mediate tumor cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis in gastric or colon cancer. This review summarizes the results about the role of IL-4/IL-13 and their receptors in gastric and colon cancer.

Keywords: gastrointestinal cancer; interleukin-13; interleukin-13 receptor; interleukin-4; interleukin-4 receptor.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Colonic Neoplasms / etiology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-13 / genetics
  • Interleukin-13 / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-4 / genetics
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptors, Interleukin-13 / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin-13 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-4 / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin-4 / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stomach Neoplasms / etiology
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-13
  • Receptors, Interleukin-13
  • Receptors, Interleukin-4
  • Interleukin-4