IL-22 Signaling in the Tumor Microenvironment.

TLDR: Jiang et al. as mentioned in this paper discussed the roles of IL-22 in malignant cells and immunocytes within the tumor microenvironment (TME), meanwhile, the potential roles of the IL-21 as a target for drug discovery was discussed.

Abstract: Interleukin (IL)-22 belongs to the IL-10 cytokine family which performs biological functions by binding to heterodimer receptors comprising a type 1 receptor chain (R1) and a type 2 receptor chain (R2) IL-22 is mainly derived from CD4+ helper T cells, CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, innate lymphocytes, and natural killer T cells It can activate downstream signaling pathways such as signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)1/3/5, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT)-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) through these heterodimer receptors Although IL-22 is produced by immune cells, its specific receptor IL-22R1 is selectively expressed in nonimmune cells, such as hepatocytes, colonic epithelial cells, and pancreatic epithelial cells (Jiang et al Hepatology 54(3):900-9, 2011; Jiang et al BMC Cancer 13:59, 2013; Curd et al Clin Exp Immunol 168(2):192-9, 2012) Immune cells do not respond to IL-22 stimulation directly within tumors, reports from different groups have revealed that IL-22 can indirectly regulate the tumor microenvironment (TME) In the present chapter, we discuss the roles of IL-22 in malignant cells and immunocytes within the TME, meanwhile, the potential roles of IL-22 as a target for drug discovery will be discussed