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IL-22 Signaling in the Tumor Microenvironment

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Tumor Microenvironment

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 1290))

Abstract

Interleukin (IL)-22 belongs to the IL-10 cytokine family which performs biological functions by binding to heterodimer receptors comprising a type 1 receptor chain (R1) and a type 2 receptor chain (R2). IL-22 is mainly derived from CD4+ helper T cells, CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, innate lymphocytes, and natural killer T cells. It can activate downstream signaling pathways such as signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)1/3/5, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT)-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) through these heterodimer receptors. Although IL-22 is produced by immune cells, its specific receptor IL-22R1 is selectively expressed in nonimmune cells, such as hepatocytes, colonic epithelial cells, and pancreatic epithelial cells (Jiang et al. Hepatology 54(3):900–9, 2011; Jiang et al. BMC Cancer 13:59, 2013; Curd et al. Clin Exp Immunol 168(2):192–9, 2012). Immune cells do not respond to IL-22 stimulation directly within tumors, reports from different groups have revealed that IL-22 can indirectly regulate the tumor microenvironment (TME). In the present chapter, we discuss the roles of IL-22 in malignant cells and immunocytes within the TME, meanwhile, the potential roles of IL-22 as a target for drug discovery will be discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China

    Runqiu Jiang & Beicheng Sun

  2. Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China

    Runqiu Jiang

Authors
  1. Runqiu Jiang
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  2. Beicheng Sun
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Correspondence to Beicheng Sun .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    Alexander Birbrair

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Jiang, R., Sun, B. (2021). IL-22 Signaling in the Tumor Microenvironment. In: Birbrair, A. (eds) Tumor Microenvironment . Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1290. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55617-4_5

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