IL-16

Alias: Interleukin-16, Lymphocyte chemoattractant factor (LCF

IL-16 is a cytokine that induces CD4+ T cell chemotaxis and activates monocytes, mast cells, dendritic cells, and eosinophils. IL-16 is produced by T lymphocytes, mast cells, dendritic cells, eosinophils, epithelial cells, and fibroblasts as a native pro-IL-16 that is cleaved by caspase-3 to produce a protein where the C- and N-termini function as a cytokine and cell cycle regulator, respectively. The cleaved monomers can associate to form a homotetramer that possess high cytokine activity. This cytokine also induces the expression of IL-2R (CD25) and MHC class II molecules on CD4+ T cells, indicating a role in immune-mediated and autoimmune diseases. IL-16 interacts directly with CD4 and has potential therapeutic use in treating HIV infection.