Interleukin 31, a cytokine produced by activated T cells, induces dermatitis in mice

  • Nat Immunol. 2004 Jul;5(7):752-60. doi: 10.1038/ni1084.
Stacey R Dillon  1 ,  Cindy Sprecher ,  Angela Hammond ,  Janine Bilsborough ,  Maryland Rosenfeld-Franklin ,  Scott R Presnell ,  Harald S Haugen ,  Mark Maurer ,  Brandon Harder ,  Janet Johnston ,  Susan Bort ,  Sherri Mudri ,  Joseph L Kuijper ,  Tom Bukowski ,  Pamela Shea ,  Dennis L Dong ,  Maria Dasovich ,  Francis J Grant ,  Luann Lockwood ,  Steven D Levin ,  Cosette LeCiel ,  Kim Waggie ,  Heather Day ,  Stavros Topouzis ,  Janet Kramer ,  Rolf Kuestner ,  Zhi Chen ,  Don Foster ,  Julia Parrish-Novak ,  Jane A Gross
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Immunology, ZymoGenetics, 1201 Eastlake Avenue East, Seattle, Washington 98102, USA.
PMID: 15184896 DOI: 10.1038/ni1084
Abstract

T cell-derived cytokines are important in the development of an effective immune response, but when dysregulated they can promote disease. Here we identify a four-helix bundle cytokine we have called interleukin 31 (IL-31), which is preferentially produced by T helper type 2 cells. IL-31 signals through a receptor composed of IL-31 Receptor A and oncostatin M receptor. Expression of IL-31 Receptor A and oncostatin M receptor mRNA was induced in activated monocytes, whereas epithelial cells expressed both mRNAs constitutively. Transgenic mice overexpressing IL-31 developed severe pruritus, alopecia and skin lesions. Furthermore, IL-31 Receptor expression was increased in diseased tissues derived from an animal model of airway hypersensitivity. These data indicate that IL-31 may be involved in promoting the dermatitis and epithelial responses that characterize allergic and non-allergic diseases.

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