IL-33 Expression in Human Tissues
Author Information
Author(s): Moussion Christine, Ortega Nathalie, Girard Jean-Philippe
Primary Institution: CNRS, IPBS (Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology), Toulouse, France
Hypothesis
IL-33 may function as an endogenous ‘alarmin’ to alert the immune system after endothelial or epithelial cell damage during trauma or infection.
Conclusion
IL-33 is constitutively expressed in normal human tissues, particularly in endothelial and epithelial cells.
Supporting Evidence
- IL-33 is abundantly expressed in the nucleus of endothelial cells from both large and small blood vessels in most normal human tissues.
- IL-33 is also found in fibroblastic reticular cells of lymphoid tissues and epithelial cells of tissues exposed to the environment.
- Constitutive expression of IL-33 in epithelial barriers supports its role in responding to injury or infection.
Takeaway
IL-33 is a protein found in our body that helps signal when there is damage, like a warning light for our immune system.
Methodology
The study used human tissue microarrays and IL-33 antibodies to analyze the expression pattern of IL-33 in vivo.
Limitations
The study did not explore the mechanisms of IL-33 release or its precise roles in human health and disease.
Participant Demographics
The study analyzed over 50 different human tissues.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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