Interleukin 24

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Interleukin 24 (IL-24) is a cytokine belonging to the IL-10 family of cytokines that signals through two heterodimeric receptors: IL-20R1/IL-20R2 and IL-22R1/IL-20R2. This interleukin is also known as Melanoma differentiation-associated 7 (mda-7) due to its discovery as a tumour suppressing protein. IL-24 appears to control in cell survival and proliferation by inducing rapid activation of particular transcription factors called Stat-1 and Stat-3. This cytokine is predominantly released by activated monocytes, macrophages and T helper 2 (Th2) cells ^[1] and acts on non-haematopoietic tissues such as skin, lung and reproductive tissues. IL-24 performs important roles in wound healing, psoriasis and cancer.^[2] Several studies have shown that cell death occurs in cancer cells/cell lines following exposure to IL-24.^[3][4] The gene for IL-24 is located on chromosome 1 in humans.^[5]

References

1. ^ Poindexter et al., Cytokine induction of interleukin-24 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Journal of Leukocyte Biology 2005, Volume 78, pages 745-752.
2. ^ Wang M, Liang P. Interleukin-24 and its receptors. Immunology, 2005, Volume 114, pages 166-70.
3. ^ Fisher PB, et al., mda-7/IL-24, a novel cancer selective apoptosis inducing cytokine gene: from the laboratory into the clinic. Cancer Biology and Therapeutics. 2003, Volume 2, pages S23-37.
4. ^ M. Sauane et al., Melanoma Differentiation Associated Gene-7/Interleukin-24 Promotes Tumor Cell-Specific Apoptosis through Both Secretory and Nonsecretory Pathways. Cancer Research, 2004, Volume 64, pages 2988-2993.
5. ^ http://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=IL24