Since its cloning in 2000, interleukin-22 (IL-22) has been extensively studied as a tissue-protective cytokine, particularly in liver diseases. 1 IL-22 is produced by a variety of immune cells, including Th1, Th2, Th17, and Th22 cells, as well as natural killer cells, natural killer T cells, innate lymphoid cells, and mucosal-associated invariant T cells. However, the primary targets of IL-22 are not immune cells but epithelial cells, including hepatocytes, pancreatic acinar cells, and intestinal epithelial cells.
Journal of Hepatology published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 02 Apr 2026.
The item focuses on IL-22 unlocks large-scale in vitro hepatocyte expansion via STAT3 activation.
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