4.6 Review

Interleukin-23: A key cytokine in inflammatory diseases

Journal

ANNALS OF MEDICINE
Volume 43, Issue 7, Pages 503-511

Publisher

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.3109/07853890.2011.577093

Keywords

Cytokines; interleukin-23; rheumatoid arthritis; spondyloarthritis; T cells

Funding

  1. Arthritis-Fondation Courtin (France)
  2. Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR, France)
  3. Inserm (France)
  4. Societe francaise de rhumatologie
  5. University Paris 13
  6. DGA
  7. Andar

Ask authors/readers for more resources

Interleukin-23 (IL-23) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine composed of two subunits, p19 and p40. The p40 subunit is shared with IL-12. IL-23 and IL-12 have different receptors and different effects. Whereas IL-12 induces development of Th1 cells, which produce interferon-gamma, IL-23 is involved in differentiation of Th17 cells in a pro-inflammatory context and especially in the presence of TGF-beta and IL-6. Activated Th17 cells produce IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-6, IL-22, TNF-alpha, and GM-CSF. Inflammatory macrophages express IL-23R and are activated by IL-23 to produce IL-1, TNF-alpha, and IL-23 itself. These effects identify IL-23 as a central cytokine in autoimmunity and a highly promising treatment target for inflammatory diseases. IL-23 is found in the skin of patients with psoriasis, in the bowel wall of patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease, and in synovial membrane of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. IL-23 is involved in osteoclastogenesis, independently from IL-17, via induction of RANKL expression. Debate continues to surround the role for IL-23 in the pathophysiology of inflammatory joint diseases (rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis). Ustekinumab, which inhibits IL-12 and IL-23 by blocking p40, has been found effective in cutaneous psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, as well as in Crohn's disease. Treatments that specifically target IL-23 (antibodies to p19) are being developed.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.6
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available