MicroRNAs and other mechanisms regulate interleukin-17 cytokines and receptors

Front Biosci (Elite Ed). 2012 Jan 1;4(4):1478-95. doi: 10.2741/e474.

Abstract

Interleukin-17 cytokines are a family of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our current studies found: i) IL-17 cytokines are not ubiquitously expressed, but several receptors and TRAF3IP2 are ubiquitously expressed in tissues with a few exceptions; ii) heart and vascular tissue are in the second tier of readiness to respond to IL-17 cytokine stimulation; iii) alternative transcription starting sites and alternative spliced isoforms are found in IL-17 cytokine and receptor transcripts; iv) higher hypomethylation status is associated with higher expressions of IL-17 receptors; v) the binding sites of several RNA binding proteins are found in the 3'UTRs of the mRNAs of IL-17 cytokines and receptors; and vi) numerous microRNA binding sites are statistically equivalent to that of experimentally verified microRNAs-mRNA interactions in the 3'UTRs of IL-17 cytokine and receptor mRNAs. These results suggest that mechanisms including alternative promoters, alternative splicing, RNA binding proteins, and microRNAs regulate the structures and expressions of IL-17 cytokines and receptors. These results provide an insight into the roles of IL-17 in mediating inflammation and immunity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Alternative Splicing
  • DNA Methylation
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-17 / genetics
  • Interleukin-17 / physiology*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / physiology*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-17 / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin-17 / physiology*

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Interleukin-17
  • MicroRNAs
  • Receptors, Interleukin-17