Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a novel member of IL-1 cytokine family. It can act both as a nuclear factor and as a soluble mediator; however, the precise role of IL-33 within the nucleus is still not clear. As a cytokine, IL-33 is suggested to function as an alarmin that is released upon endothelial or epithelial cell damage. As such, IL-33 targets multiple cell types thereby alerting the immune system to endogenous trauma such as physical stress or infection. However, a dysregulated release of IL-33 has a potential to drive distinct pathologies.

In this review, we discuss the contribution of IL-33 to the pathophysiology of asthma, arthritis, obesity and atherosclerosis as well as the potential of IL-33 for therapeutic intervention.

J Intern Med. 2011 Jan;269(1):29-35
Authors: Kurowska-Stolarska M, Hueber A, Stolarski B, McInnes IB
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