Mouse Interleukin 33 (IL-33) is a 30 kDa proinflammatory cytokine which may also regulates gene transcription in producer cells. IL-33 is constitutively expressed in smooth muscle and airway epithelia. IL-33 was identified based on sequence and structural homology with IL-1 family cytokines. It is up-regulated in arterial smooth muscle, dermal fibroblasts, and keratinocytes following IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta stimulation. IL-33 is structurally related to IL-1, which induces helper T cells to produce type 2 cytokines and acts through the receptor IL1RL-1. BindingIL-33 to this receptor activates NF-kappa-B and MAP kinases and induces in vitro Th2 cells to produce cytokines. In vivo, IL-33 induces the expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and also leads to severe pathological changes in mucosal organs.
