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Interleukin‐31 and interleukin‐31 receptor: New therapeutic targets for atopic dermatitis
Author(s) -
Nakashima Chisa,
Otsuka Atsushi,
Kabashima Kenji
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/exd.13533
Subject(s) - atopic dermatitis , immunology , medicine , cytokine , interleukin 4 receptor , interleukin , receptor , interleukin 4
Atopic dermatitis ( AD ) is characterized by chronic, eczematous, severe pruritic skin lesions caused by skin barrier dysfunction and T helper (Th)2 cell‐mediated immunity. Interleukin ( IL )‐31 is a potent pruritogenic cytokine primarily produced by Th2 cells. Both IL ‐31 transgenic mice and wild‐type mice treated with IL ‐31 exhibit AD ‐like skin lesions and scratching behaviour. IL ‐31 receptor α‐chain ( IL ‐31 RA ) is also expressed in peripheral nerves and epidermal keratinocytes, and the roles of IL ‐31 on pruritus and skin barrier have been investigated. Recently, an anti– IL ‐31 receptor antibody was shown to significantly improve pruritus in AD patients. This review focuses on IL ‐31 and IL ‐31 RA in AD .