IL-33与支气管哮喘的研究进展

Research advances on IL-33 and bronchial asthma

IL-33是最近研究发现的IL-1家族新成员。作为一种多功能细胞因子，它能够诱导Th2、嗜酸粒细胞、嗜碱粒细胞、肥大细胞等多种细胞活化，促进机体炎症反应。研究发现，IL-33通过结合IL-1受体家族成员ST2活化NF—KB和MAPK信号通路，诱导Th2细胞因子的产生，在多种疾病的发生发展过程中起着重要作用，特别是参与了支气管哮喘等气道炎症的病理过程，被认为是气道炎症性疾病的炎性致病因子。越来越多的证据证明，IL-33在支气管哮喘的发病机制中起到重要的介导作用，有望成为支气管哮喘治疗的一个新靶点。但目前IL-33在支气管哮喘发病机制中的作用尚未完全清楚。该文就IL-33的分子结构、表达、生物学活性及其在支气管哮喘的作用作一综述。

IL-33, a recently discovered member of the IL-1 family,is a multifunctional cytokine. It is a- ble to activate variety of cells,including Th2 cells, eosnophils, basophils and mast cells, and then promoting the inflammatory response. Through its receptor ST2, IL-33 activates NF-KB and MAPK signaling pathway,induces production of Th2 cytokines and plays an important role in the occurrence as well as the development of many diseases such as asthma. As such, it is hoped that IL-33 will be a novel therapeutic target for brochial asthma. However, the role of IL-33 in asthma pathogenesis remains unclear yet. Thus, the present review focuses on the molecular structure,expression,biological activity and contribution of IL-33 to the pathogenesis of asthma.