The role of interleukin-20 in liver disease: Functions, mechanisms and clinical applications
Kun Wang,
He-Qin Zhan,
Ying Hu,
Zhan-Yuan Yuan,
Jun-Fa Yang,
Da-Shuai Yang,
Liang-Song Tao,
Tao Xu
Affiliations
Kun Wang
School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
He-Qin Zhan
Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
Ying Hu
Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
Zhan-Yuan Yuan
Department of Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China
Jun-Fa Yang
Department of orthopedics, Anhui Children's Hospital, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China
Da-Shuai Yang
Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
Liang-Song Tao
Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
Tao Xu
Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China; Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China; Corresponding author. School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
Liver disease is a severe public health concern worldwide. There is a close relationship between the liver and cytokines, and liver inflammation from a variety of causes leads to the release and activation of cytokines. The functions of cytokines are complex and variable, and are closely related to their cellular origin, target molecules and mode of action. Interleukin (IL)-20 has been studied as a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is expressed and regulated in some diseases. Furthermore, accumulating evidences has shown that IL-20 is highly expressed in clinical samples from patients with liver disease, promoting the production of pro-inflammatory molecules involved in liver disease progression, and antagonists of IL-20 can effectively inhibit liver injury and produce protective effects. This review highlights the potential of targeting IL-20 in liver diseases, elucidates the potential mechanisms of IL-20 inducing liver injury, and suggests multiple viable strategies to mitigate the pro-inflammatory response to IL-20. Genomic CRISPR/Cas9-based screens may be a feasible way to further explore the signaling pathways and regulation of IL-20 in liver diseases. Nanovector systems targeting IL-20 offer new possibilities for the treatment and prevention of liver diseases.
