A brief history of IL-9

J Immunol. 2011 Mar 15;186(6):3283-8. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1003049.

Abstract

IL-9 was first described in the late 1980s as a member of a growing number of cytokines that had pleiotropic functions in the immune system. Although many biological functions have been attributed to IL-9, it remains an understudied cytokine. A resurgence of interest in IL-9 has been spurred by recent work demonstrating a role for IL-9 in regulating inflammatory immunity and defining the transcription factors that activate the Il9 gene in cells that most efficiently produce IL-9. In this review, we summarize the characterization of IL-9 biological activities, highlight roles for the cytokine that are clearly defined, and outline questions regarding IL-9 functions that still require further exploration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Interleukin-9 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-9 / chemistry*
  • Interleukin-9 / genetics
  • Interleukin-9 / physiology*
  • Mast Cells / immunology
  • Mast Cells / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / chemistry
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / physiology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-9 / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Interleukin-9 / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin-9 / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Tissue Distribution / genetics
  • Tissue Distribution / immunology

Substances

  • IL9 protein, human
  • Interleukin-9
  • Lancl1 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Receptors, Interleukin-9