Interleukin 5

3VA2, 1HUL, 3QT2356716191ENSG00000113525ENSMUSG00000036117P05113P04401NM_000879NM_010558NP_000870NP_034688Interleukin 5 (IL5) is an interleukin produced by type-2 T helper cells and mast cells.1hul: A NOVEL DIMER CONFIGURATION REVEALED BY THE CRYSTAL STRUCTURE AT 2.4 ANGSTROMS RESOLUTION OF HUMAN INTERLEUKIN-5 Interleukin 5 (IL5) is an interleukin produced by type-2 T helper cells and mast cells. Through binding to the interleukin-5 receptor, interleukin 5 stimulates B cell growth and increases immunoglobulin secretion - primarily IgA. It is also a key mediator in eosinophil activation. IL-5 is a 115-amino acid (in human, 133 in the mouse) -long TH2 cytokine that is part of the hematopoietic family. Unlike other members of this cytokine family (namely interleukin 3 and GM-CSF), this glycoprotein in its active form is a homodimer. The IL-5 gene is located on chromosome 11 in the mouse, and chromosome 5 in humans, in close proximity to the genes encoding IL-3, IL-4, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which are often co-expressed in TH2 cells. Interleukin-5 is also expressed by eosinophils and has been observed in the mast cells of asthmatic airways by immunohistochemistry. IL-5 expression is regulated by several transcription factors including GATA3. Interleukin-5 has long been associated with the cause of several allergic diseases including allergic rhinitis and asthma, wherein a large increase in the number of circulating, airway tissue, and induced sputum eosinophils have been observed. Given the high concordance of eosinophils and, in particular, allergic asthma pathology, it has been widely speculated that eosinophils have an important role in the pathology of this disease. Drugs that target IL-5 are mepolizumab and reslizumab. Eosinophils are terminally differentiated granulocytes found in most mammals. The principal role of these cells, in a healthy host, is the elimination of antibody bound parasites through the release of cytotoxic granule proteins. Given that eosinophils are the primary IL-5Rα-expressing cells, it is not surprising that this cell type responds to IL-5. In fact, IL-5 was originally discovered as an eosinophil colony-stimulating factor, is a major regulator of eosinophil accumulation in tissues, and can modulate eosinophil behavior at every stage from maturation to survival. Mepolizumab is a monoclonal antibody against IL-5 which can reduce excessive eosinophilia. In Hodgkin lymphoma, for instance, the typically-observed eosinophilia is thought to be attributable to an increased production of IL-5. Interleukin 5 has been shown to interact with Interleukin 5 receptor alpha subunit.