| Modification Notes |
The interleukins (ILs) are a broad family of well characterized cytokines, primarily of hematopoietic cell origin. They are secreted by immune cells (mainly macrophages, B-cells or T-cells) that regulate a wide range of immune system functions. The specific functions of different interleukins vary from the regulation of inflammatory and immune responses to the regulation of other interleukins. IL-33 (interleukin 33), also known as DVS27, IL1F11, C9orf26 or NF-HEV, is a 270 amino acid secreted protein that belongs to the IL family. Expressed in tonsils and lymph nodes, IL-33 functions as a cytokine that is stimulated via interaction with ST2, an association that recruits a variety of proteins, including MyD88, IRAK-1 and TRAF6, and can also induce T helper-associated cytokine activity. IL-33 plays a role in the survival and adhesion of mast cells and may be involved in the control of endothelial cell activation. |