The role of IL-22 in cancer.

Interleukin-22, discovered in the year of 2000, is a pleiotropic Th17 cytokine from the IL-10 family of cytokines. IL-22 signals through the type 2 cytokine receptor complex IL-22R and predominantly activates STAT3. This pathway leads to the transcription of several different types of genes, giving IL-22 context-specific functions ranging from inducing antimicrobial peptide expression to target cell proliferation. In recent years, it has been shown that IL-22 is involved in the pathogenesis of neoplasia in some cancers through its pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects. This review highlights studies with recent discoveries and conclusions drawn on IL-22 and its involvement and function in various cancers. Such a study may be helpful to better understand the role of IL-22 in cancer so that new treatment could be developed targeting IL-22.