The roles of IL - 17, 18, 23, 25 in the allergic diseases

Many nnewly discovered interleukins have been implicated to play an important role in the pathogenesis of the allergic diseases, for example, human interleukin (IL)-17, a T-cell derived cytokine; interleukin (IL)-18, an interferon (IFN)-gamma-inducing cytokine; interleukin (IL)-23, produced by activated dendritic cells, and interleukin (IL)-25, a recently described T helper 2 (Th2) cell-derived cytokine. Understanding their characteristic and roles in diseases may help us to know better the mechanism of the allergic diseases and develop the strategy for treating the disease.