Volume 24, Issue 1 pp. 21-27
REVIEW

Interleukin-35 regulates the balance of Th17 and Treg responses during the pathogenesis of connective tissue diseases

Di Wang

Di Wang

Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China

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Ling Lei

Corresponding Author

Ling Lei

Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China

Correspondence

Ling Lei, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Province, China.

Email: [email protected]

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First published: 11 September 2020
Citations: 28

Abstract

Interleukin (IL)-35 belongs to the IL-12 cytokine family and is a heterodimer of the p35 and Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3 (EBI3) subunits. Functionally, IL-35 can promote the proliferation and activation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and suppress the function of T helper 17 (Th17) cells and other inflammatory cells to inhibit immune responses. In recent years, an abnormal IL-35 expression causing a Th17/Treg imbalance has been associated with the development and progression of several connective tissue diseases (CTDs), such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc), dermatomyositis (DM)/polymyositis (PM), and primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS). Here, we review the role of IL-35 in regulating the balance of Th17/Treg responses in different types of CTDs and provide new insights into the role of IL-35 in these diseases.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Neither of the authors have any conflicts of interest. There has been no interest or relationship with pharmaceutical agencies within the past 36 months.

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