Interleukin 22(IL-22), a member of the IL-10 cytokine family and is an emerging CD4+Th cytokine that plays an important role in anti-microbial defense, homeostasis and tissue repair. We are interested in IL-22 as it has the double function of suppressing or encouraging inflammation in various disease models including hepatic inflammation. As a survival factor for hepatocytes, IL-22 plays a protective role in many kinds of liver diseases, such as hepatitis, liver fibrosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by binding to the receptors IL-22R1 and IL-10R2. Overexpression of IL-22 reduces liver fibrosis by attenuating the activation of hepatic stellate cell (the main cell types involved in hepatic fibrosis), and down-regulating the levels of inflammatory cytokines. Administration of exogenous IL-22 increases the replication of hepatocytes by inhibiting cell apoptosis and promoting mitosis, ultimately plays a contributing role in liver regeneration. Furthermore, treatment with IL-22 activates hepatic signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), ameliorates hepatic oxidative stress and alcoholic fatty liver, effectively alleviate the liver damage caused by alcohol and toxicant. In conclusion, the hepatoprotective functions and liver regeneration promoting effect of IL-22 suggests the therapeutic potential of IL-22 in the treatment of human hepatic diseases.

中文翻译：

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白细胞介素 22 在肝损伤、炎症和癌症中的作用。


白细胞介素22（IL-22）是IL-10细胞因子家族的成员，是一种新兴的CD4+Th细胞因子，在抗微生物防御、体内平衡和组织修复中发挥重要作用。我们对 IL-22 感兴趣，因为它在包括肝脏炎症在内的各种疾病模型中具有抑制或促进炎症的双重功能。 IL-22作为肝细胞的生存因子，通过与受体IL-22R1和IL-10R2结合，在多种肝脏疾病中发挥保护作用，如肝炎、肝纤维化或肝细胞癌(HCC)。 IL-22的过度表达通过减弱肝星状细胞（参与肝纤维化的主要细胞类型）的活化并下调炎症细胞因子的水平来减少肝纤维化。外源性IL-22通过抑制细胞凋亡和促进有丝分裂来增加肝细胞的复制，最终在肝再生中发挥重要作用。此外，IL-22治疗可激活肝脏信号转导和转录激活因子3（STAT3），改善肝脏氧化应激和酒精性脂肪肝，有效减轻酒精和毒物引起的肝脏损伤。总之，IL-22的保肝功能和促进肝再生作用提示了IL-22在治疗人类肝脏疾病中的治疗潜力。