Two faces: IL-22 effects prevail over defense against metastasis

Interleukin-22 (IL-22) is a cytokine with pleotropic and opposing roles in physiological and pathological states. In this issue of Immunity, Giannou et al. and Briukhovetska et al. demonstrate how IL-22 is involved in promoting cancer metastasis formation. Interleukin-22 (IL-22) is a cytokine with pleotropic and opposing roles in physiological and pathological states. In this issue of Immunity, Giannou et al. and Briukhovetska et al. demonstrate how IL-22 is involved in promoting cancer metastasis formation. T cell-derived interleukin-22 drives the expression of CD155 by cancer cells to suppress NK cell function and promote metastasisBriukhovetska et al.ImmunityJanuary 10, 2023In BriefMetastatic disease is the terminal and most lethal stage of cancer. Briukhovetska et al. find that interleukin-22 produced by Th cells increases the expression of CD155 in cancer cells, which in turn abrogates NK cell function by promoting the internalization of the activating receptor CD226. This axis promotes an immunosuppressive niche that enables lung metastases. Full-Text PDF Open Access