IL20

IL20 is the member of the IL20 subfamily of cytokines. Other members include IL-19, IL-22, IL-24 and IL-26. They have been recognized to be active at epithelial sites in processes such as psoriasis and wound healing. They are identified as part of the epithelial response to S.aureus skin infection, contributing to the pathogenesis of infection by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory factors such as IL-1β and IL-17, and thereby reducing neutrophil recruitment.
It is reported that IL-20 is an angiogenesis factor because it induces endothelial cell proliferation, migration and vascular tube formation in vitro and tumor vascularization in vivo. IL-20 upregulates IL-6 and TNF-alpha expression. Also, IL-20 promotes atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. A number of studies have revealed that IL-20 and its receptors are expressed in RA synovial fibroblasts (RASFs). Induced by IL-20, RASFs secretes MCP-1, IL-6 and IL-8. Moreover, neutrophil chemotaxis and RASF migration are promoted by IL-20. IL-20 promotes cutaneous infection with Staphylococcus aureus in mice by downregulating IL-1β-and IL-17A-dependent pathway. Antibody blockade of the IL-20 receptor improved outcomes in infected mice. IL-20 presumably plays an immunosuppressive role during infection that could be therapeutically targeted to alter susceptibility to infection.
Entrez Gene ID: 50604
UniProt ID: Q9NYY1