白细胞介素37在炎症和哮喘中的作用及其治疗应用前景

Role of interleukin-37 in inflammation and asthma and its prospects as a therapy

白细胞介素(IL)37是IL-1家族中一种抗炎细胞因子成员,能与IL-18受体α(IL-18Rα)和IL-1R8异二聚体受体结合。近来研究显示,IL-37在炎症发生发展、细胞分化和增殖中起关键调控作用。IL-37参与许多炎症性疾病如哮喘、类风湿性关节炎和炎性肠病等发病过程。在哮喘小鼠模型中,IL-37可抑制哮喘的变应性气道炎症和气道高反应。IL-37参与过敏性炎症反应的诸多方面如嗜酸性粒细胞和中性粒细胞募集以及抑制T辅助性细胞(Th)1,Th2和Th17炎症介质的产生。但IL-37在人类哮喘中的作用分子机制尚未被阐明。本文主要综述IL-37在炎症和哮喘中的病理生理作用,并阐述其作为哮喘诊断和治疗靶标的应用前景。

Interleukin(IL)-37 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine member of the IL-1 family.It binds to a complex of heterodimeric receptors including IL-18 receptorα(IL-18Rα)and IL-1 receptor 8.Recen studies show that IL-37 plays a key regulatory role in the development of inflammation,cellular differentiation and proliferation.IL-37 is involved in various inflammatory diseases,such as asthma,rheumatoid arthritis,and inflammatory bowel disease.IL-37 can inhibit allergic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in asthmatic mice.IL-37 also participates in many aspects of allergic inflammation,including eosinophil and neutrophil recruitment and inhibition of Th1,Th2 and Th17 inflammatory mediators production.However,the molecular mechanism of IL-37 in human asthma has not been fully elucidated.This article reviews the role of IL-37 in the pathophysiology of asthma,and elaborates its prospects as a target for diagnosis and treatment of asthma.