Interleukins in liver disease treatment

Table 1 Interleukin families in liver diseases

IL family	Members	Functions
IL-1	IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-18, IL-33, IL-36, IL-37, and IL-38	Mediate inflammatory responses to a wide range of stimuli in both innate and adaptive immune systems, with pro- and anti-inflammatory functions[12,13]
IL-2	IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, and IL-21	Regulate T cell proliferation and activation, NK cytolytic activity, and the differentiation of regulatory T cells[14,15]
IL-6	IL-6, IL-11, IL-27, IL-31, oncostatin M, leukemia inhibitory factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor, cardiotrophin 1, and cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor 1s	Play important roles in B-cell stimulation, the balance between regulatory and effector T cells, metabolic regulation, hepatic acute phase reaction, and many neural functions[16,17]
IL-8	IL-8, also known as CXCL8	It is a member of the chemokines, which has biological functions on cells expressing CXCR1 and CXCR2 receptors, such as polymorphonuclear leukocytes (neutrophils), epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and neurons[18,19]
IL-10	IL-10, IL-19, IL-20, IL-22, IL-24, and IL-26	Display immunosuppressive functions, elicit innate defense mechanisms against viral, bacterial, and fungal infections, promote tissue repair and regeneration, and provide therapeutic targets for autoimmune diseases and cancers[20,21]
IL-12	IL-12, IL-23, IL-27 and IL-35	Regulate immune responses and influence naïve T cell differentiation in many inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, and various cardiovascular diseases[22,23]
IL-17	IL-17A to IL-17F (IL-17E also known as IL-25)	Defense against microbial (bacteria, fungi, and helminth) infection, recruit neutrophils, and modify T-helper cell differentiation[24,25]

IL: Interleukins.