IL-33

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a nuclear alarmin of the IL-1 family, constitutively stored in the chromatin of epithelial and endothelial barrier cells and released upon necrotic cell damage, mechanical injury or allergen exposure. Full-length IL-33 functions as a nuclear transcriptional repressor, whereas proteolytic processing by neutrophil elastase, cathepsin G or mast cell proteases yields a mature superactive cytokine. IL-33 binds the suppression of tumorigenicity 2 receptor (ST2/IL-1RL1), recruiting IL-1RAcP to activate MyD88-IRAK-NF-κB and MAPK signaling. It potently drives group 2 innate lymphoid cells, Th2 cells, mast cells, eosinophils and basophils, eliciting IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IgE and type 2 inflammation in asthma, atopic dermatitis and food allergy. IL-33 also promotes regulatory T cell expansion in tissues and is implicated in cardiovascular and central nervous system inflammation.