Skip to main content
. 2023 Aug 24;30:254–274. doi: 10.1016/j.omto.2023.08.010

Table 2.

Cytokine profile associated with CRC

Classification Function/Effect Source Reference
IFN IFN-I IFN-α inhibit virus replication, and enhance the role of MHC-II molecules. Activate DCs and increase the cytolytic activity of macrophages and NK cells, induce IL-15 production, increase T cell survival, and increase the production of stromal-derived vascular inhibitory molecules activated macrophages, monocytes, and activated T cells Dunn et al. and Di Franco et al.2,11
IFN-β Fibroblasts Dunn et al. and Di Franco et al.2,11
IFN-II IFN-γ inhibit virus replication, increase the production of MHC-I and MHC-II in cancer cells, increase the production of IL-12 in APC, promote Th1 polarization, and activate macrophages. IFN-γ stimulation leads to nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of STAT1, leading to STAT1-TET2 binding. IFN-γ is an effective inducer of IDO expression and a pathogenic driver of CRC progression Th1,Tc1,NK cells Dunn et al., Wang et al., and Du et al.2,14,17
Interleukin IL-1F IL-1α, IL-1β, enhance the expression of cytokines (such as IL-2 and its receptors) to stimulate T cell activation, enhance B cell proliferation and maturation, NK cytotoxicity, induce the expression of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, TNF, GM-CSF, and PGE2 in macrophages and the expression of chemokines to play a pro-inflammatory role monocytes, macrophages, DCs, NK, B cells, endothelial cells Li et al., Kasprzak, Sharma and Kanneganti195,196,197
IL-18 induce T cells to produce IFN-γ and enhance NK cytotoxicity macrophages and DCs Li et al. and Sharma and Kanneganti195,197
IL-36α, IL-36β, IL-36γ activated monocytes, macrophages, and keratinocytes produce a variety of pro-inflammatory factors to stimulate T cells together keratinocytes, other barrier tissues, neutrophils Li et al., Li et al., and Xu et al.195,198,199
IL-37 anti-inflammatory effect monocytes, macrophages, epithelial cells, activated B cells Li et al.195
IL-38 N terminus of apoptotic cells Li et al.195
IL-2 family (γc family) IL-2 induce the proliferation of activated T cells and activated B cells, enhance NK cells' cytotoxicity, and the monocytes and macrophages' ability to kill tumor cells and bacteria Th1 Li et al. and Heys et al.195,200
IL-4 induce Th2 cells, stimulate the proliferation of B, T, and mast cells, upregulate B cells, macrophage MHC-II molecules and CD23 of B cells, downregulate IL-12 production to inhibit Th1 differentiation, and enhance macrophage endocytosis, mediates tumor cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis in colon cancer Th2, Tc2, NK, NKT, γδT, and mast cells Li et al. and Song et al.195,201
IL-13 inhibit macrophage activation and cytokine secretion, stimulate B cell proliferation, upregulate B cell and monocyte MHC-II class molecules and CD23 expression, and mediate tumor cell proliferation, survival and metastasis of colon cancer Th2 and mast cells Song et al.201
IL-15 induce the proliferation of T, NK, and activated B cells and the production of NK and CD8+ T cell factors T, NK, monocytes, macrophages, DCs, and B cells Li et al. and Zarogoulidis et al.195,202
IL-21 NK differentiation, B cell activation, stimulation of T cell, Follicular helper T cells (Tfh) directed differentiation and survival Th Li et al.195
chemokine family IL-3 promote growth and differentiation of hematopoietic cell precursors, mast cell growth T, NK, and mast cells Li et al.195
IL-8 mediate chemotaxis and activation of neutrophils
IL-8 modulates not only stemness maintenance but also stemness promotion, such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition
monocytes, macrophages, and endothelial cells Kasprzak and Conciatori et al.196,203
IL-12/IL-6 family IL-6 promote the differentiation of myeloid stem cells, and the differentiation of B cells into plasma cells, induce the expression of acute phase proteins, enhance the proliferation of T cells, and it is vital for Th17 and Tfh-directed differentiation Th2, monocytes, macrophages, DCs, and bone marrow stromal cells Kasprzak and Taniguchi and Karin196,204
IL-12 induce the proliferation of Th1, CD8+T, γδT, NK and the production of IFN-γ and enhance NK cell and CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity monocytes, macrophages, DCs, and B cells Taniguchi and Karin and Engel and Neurath204,205
IL-23 induce Th1 proliferation and IFN-γ production, induce Th17 expansion and survival, induce macrophages to express pro-inflammatory factors (such as IL-1, IL-6, TNF), and inhibit intestinal inflammation DCs Taniguchi and Karin and Neurath204,206
IL-27 (IL-30) induce Th1 responses, enhance IFN-γ production DCs and monocytes Taniguchi and Karin and Engel and Neurath204,205
IL-35 produce immunosuppressive effects on Th1, Th2, and Th17, stimulating Treg proliferation Treg Taniguchi and Karin204
IL-10 family IL-10 suppress IFN-γ secretion and IL-2 secretion, downregulation of MHC-II molecules and cytokines such as IL-2 production, inhibition of Th1 differentiation, inhibition of T cell proliferation, and enhancement of B cell differentiation Th, Tc, B cells, monocytes, and macrophages Li et al. and Landskron et al.195,207
IL-19 regulate Th1 activity monocyte Li et al.195
IL-20 regulate skin inflammation monocyte and keratinocyte Li et al.195
IL-22 (IL-TIF) inhibition of Th2 and secretion of IL-4 T cells Li et al. and Wei et al.195,208
IL-24 (MDA-7) induce TNF, IL-1, IL-6 expression and anti-tumor activity Th2, monocytes, and macrophages Li et al.195
IL-26 enhance epithelial cell production of IL-8 and IL-10 T cells and NK cells Li et al. and Niess et al.195,209
IL-17 family IL-17 pro-inflammatory effect, stimulate the expression of TNF, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, G-CSF and other factors, inhibit intestinal inflammation T cells Hurtado et al. and Wu et al.210,211
IL-25 induce IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 expression and Th2 related pathological changes Th1, macrophages, and mast cell Li et al. and Jou et al.195,212
other interleukins IL-7 induce differentiation of lymphocytic stem cells into T and B lineage progenitor cells, and activate mature T cells bone marrow and thymic stromal cells Zarogoulidis et al.202
IL-33 promote inflammatory response and induce Th2-mediated innate and adaptive immune responses macrophages, DCs, fibroblasts, and mast cell Jou et al.212
growth factor GM-CFS stimulate the growth of monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils, and activate macrophages Th, macrophages, fibroblasts, mast cells, and endothelial cells Aliper et al.213
VEGF promote tumor angiogenesis, and it is closely related to the invasion and metastasis of CRC endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, some mesenchymal and stromal cells Maryam et al.214
TGF TGF TGF-α associated with tumor metastasis and invasion macrophages, brain cells, and keratinocytes Lee et al.215
TGF-β pro-inflammatory effects include induction of monocyte and macrophage chemotaxis; anti-inflammatory effects, such as inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation Th, B cells, macrophages, and mast cells Lee et al.215
TNF TNF TNF-α cause cachexia and tumor cytotoxicity, induce cytokine secretion, and activate macrophages Th, monocytes, macrophages, DCs, mast cells, NK cells, and B cells Kasprzak and Landskron et al.196,207
TNF-β cause tumor cytotoxicity, enhance the endocytosis of neutrophils and macrophages, and participate in the development of lymphoid organs Th1, Tc Maryam et al.214