Healthy Adult LDL-C Bears Reverse Association with Serum IL-17A Levels

Interleukin-17 Family Cytokines in Metabolic Disorders and Cancer

Interleukin-17 (IL-17) family cytokines are potent drivers of inflammatory responses. Although IL-17 was originally identified as a cytokine that induces protective effects against bacterial and fungal infections, IL-17 can also promote chronic inflammation in a number of autoimmune diseases. Research in the last decade has also elucidated critical roles of IL-17 during cancer development and treatment. Intriguingly, IL-17 seems to play a role in the risk of cancers that are associated with metabolic disorders. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge on the biochemical basis of IL-17 signaling, IL-17′s involvement in cancers and metabolic disorders, and postulate how IL-17 family cytokines may serve as a bridge between these two types of diseases.

Interleukin 17, the double-edged sword in atherosclerosis

Cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, are the number one cause of death worldwide. These diseases have taken the place of pneumonia and other infectious diseases in the epidemiological charts. Thus, their importance should not be underestimated. Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease. Therefore, immunological signaling molecules and immune cells carry out a central role in its etiology. One of these signaling molecules is interleukin (IL)-17. This relatively newly discovered signaling molecule might have a dual role as acting both pro-atherogenic and anti-atherogenic depending on the situation. The majority of articles have discussed IL-17 and its action in atherosclerosis, and it may be a new target for the treatment of patients with this disease. In this review, the immunological basis of atherosclerosis with an emphasis on the role of IL-17 and a brief explanation of the role of IL-17 on atherosclerogenic disorders will be discussed.