The cytokine, interleukin (IL)-19, is a member of the IL-10 family that includes IL-20, IL-22, IL-24, and IL-26. Recent studies have shown that IL-19 is produced by keratinocytes, epithelial cells, macrophages, and B-cells. Little is known about the exact biological role of IL-19 in immunological regulation, although there is an increasing body of data demonstrating that IL-19 is associated with the development of Th2 responses and the pathogenesis of psoriasis. In this review, I shall attempt to discuss current knowledge about the role of IL-19 on macrophages and the potential role in inflammatory bowel disease.
Keywords: colonic inflammation; cytokine; inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); interleukin-19; macrophages.
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