Recombinant Human IL17C

Interleukin 17C is one of six IL17 cytokines encoded by separate genes (IL17A-F). All members of this family have a similar structure, in part due to the four cysteine residues critical to the 3 dimensional shape, which are highly conserved. This family bears no sequence similarity to other known cytokines. Within the family IL17C shares approximately 23% homology with IL17A. It plays a key role in epithelial innate immunity in an autocrine manner, notably to intestinal bacterial pathogens and works with IL22 to induce antibacterial peptide expression. Inflammatory stimulation also upregulates expression in keratinocytes, CD4+ T-cells, dendritic cells and macrophages. Depending on the event inducing its expression and release, IL17C can be both protective or pathogenic, and increased IL17C/IL17RE signalling is implicated in autoimmune disease susceptibility due to its involvement in Th17 cell dependent immunity.