Abstract
Interleukin-33 (IL-33), considered as an alarmin released upon tissue stress or damage, is a member of the IL-1 family and binds the ST2 receptor. First described as a potent initiator of type 2 immune responses through the activation of T helper 2 (TH2) cells and mast cells, IL-33 is now also known as an effective stimulator of TH1 immune cells, natural killer (NK) cells, iNKT cells, and CD8 T lymphocytes. Moreover, IL-33 was shown to play an important role in several cancers due to its pro and anti-tumorigenic functions. Currently, IL-33 is a possible inducer and prognostic marker of cancer development with a direct effect on tumor cells promoting tumorigenesis, proliferation, survival, and metastasis. IL-33 also promotes tumor growth and metastasis by remodeling the tumor microenvironment (TME) and inducing angiogenesis. IL-33 favors tumor progression through the immune system by inducing M2 macrophage polarization and tumor infiltration, and upon activation of immunosuppressive cells such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) or regulatory T cells. The anti-tumor functions of IL-33 also depend on infiltrated immune cells displaying TH1 responses. This review therefore summarizes the dual role of this cytokine in cancer and suggests that new proposals for IL-33-based cancer immunotherapies should be considered with caution.
Highlights
Cancer development depends on hallmarks such as self-sufficient proliferation, escape to antiapoptotic signals, resistance to apoptosis, immune evasion, infinite replication, nurture of vascularization, and ability for invasion and metastasis [1]
The goal of this review is to summarize the hallmarks of IL-33 in cancer, both in terms of its pro-tumorigenic function targeting resident T helper 2 (TH2) immune cells of the tumor microenvironment (TME), and as a tumor suppressor molecule activating the competent TH1 immune cells
IL-33 appears as a pro-tumorigenic cytokine that can limit tumor growth through the activation of antitumor immunity
Summary
Cancer development depends on hallmarks such as self-sufficient proliferation, escape to antiapoptotic signals, resistance to apoptosis, immune evasion, infinite replication, nurture of vascularization, and ability for invasion and metastasis [1]. These hallmarks do concern the cancer cell and the tumor microenvironment (TME) which is essential for tumorigenesis. Favor the interaction between cells in the inflammatory tumor microenvironment [5]. Interleukin-33 (IL-33), a member of the IL-1 superfamily of cytokines [6], is well-known to have an important role in innate and adaptive immunity through its contribution to tissue homeostasis and responses to stress such as tumor
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