Interleukin 33
Encyclopedia
Interleukin 33 is a cytokine
Cytokine
Cytokines are small cell-signaling protein molecules that are secreted by the glial cells of the nervous system and by numerous cells of the immune system and are a category of signaling molecules used extensively in intercellular communication...

 belonging to the IL-1
IL-1
IL-1 may refer to:* Interleukin 1, a protein* Illinois' 1st congressional district* Illinois Route 1* Building 1 of Infinite Loop , the Headquarters of Apple Inc....

 superfamily. IL-33 induces helper T cells, mast cell
Mast cell
A mast cell is a resident cell of several types of tissues and contains many granules rich in histamine and heparin...

s, eosinophils and basophils to produce type 2 cytokines. This cytokine was previously named NF-HEV 'nuclear
Cell nucleus
In cell biology, the nucleus is a membrane-enclosed organelle found in eukaryotic cells. It contains most of the cell's genetic material, organized as multiple long linear DNA molecules in complex with a large variety of proteins, such as histones, to form chromosomes. The genes within these...

 factor (NF) in high endothelial venule
Venule
A venule is a very small blood vessel in the microcirculation that allows deoxygenated blood to return from the capillary beds to the larger blood vessels called veins. Venules range from 8 to 100μm in diameter and are formed when capillaries unite .Venules are blood vessels that drain blood...

s' (HEVs) since it was originally identified in these specialized cells. IL-33 mediates its biological effects by interacting with the receptors ST2 (aka IL1RL1
IL1RL1
Interleukin 1 receptor-like 1, also known as IL1RL1 and ST2, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the IL1RL1 gene.- Function :The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the interleukin-1 receptor family...

) and IL-1 Receptor Accessory Protein (IL1RAP
IL1RAP
Interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein is a protein that in humans is encoded by the IL1RAP gene.-Interactions:IL1RAP has been shown to interact with TOLLIP and Interleukin 1 receptor, type I.-Further reading:...

), activating intracellular molecules in the NF-κB and MAP kinase signaling pathways that drive production of type 2 cytokines (e.g. IL-5
Interleukin
Interleukins are a group of cytokines that were first seen to be expressed by white blood cells . The term interleukin derives from "as a means of communication", and "deriving from the fact that many of these proteins are produced by leukocytes and act on leukocytes"...

 and IL-13
Interleukin 13
Interleukin 13 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the IL13 gene. IL-13 is cytokine secreted by many cell types, but especially T helper type 2 cells, that is a mediator of allergic inflammation and disease.-Functions:...

) from polarized Th2 cells. The induction of type 2 cytokines by IL-33 in vivo is believed to induce the severe pathological changes observed in mucosal organs following administration of IL-33.
IL-33 is a member of the IL-1 superfamily of cytokines, a determination based in part on the molecules β-trefoil structure, a conserved structure type described in other IL-1 cytokines, icluding IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1Ra and IL-18. In this structure, the 12 β-strands of the β-trefoil are arranged in three pseudorepeats of four β-strand units, of which the first and last β-strands are antiparallel staves in a six-stranded β-barrel, while the second and third β-strands of each repeat form a β-hairpin sitting atop the β-barrel. IL-33 is a ligand that binds to a high-affinity receptor family member ST2. The complex of these two molecules with IL-1RAcP indicates a ternary complex formation. The binding area appears to be a mix of polar and non-polar regions that create a specific binding between ligand and receptor. The interface between the molecules has been shown to be extensive. Structural data on the IL-33 molecule was determined by solution NMR and small angle X-ray scattering
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