Human IL-20, Tag Free Protein (HA211525)

IL-20 has a broad range of functions and is involved in a variety of immune and non-immune processes in the body. For example, IL-20 is involved in the process of wound healing, proliferation of epithelial cells, prevention of apoptosis of epithelial cells, regulation of differentiation of keratinocytes during inflammation, the expansion of multipotential hematopoietic progenitor cells, and more. A specific receptor for this cytokine is highly upregulated in psoriatic skin. Dysfunctional regulation of IL-20 could lead to uncontrollable wound healing in psoriasis, which could be a contributing factor to the pathogenesis of this disease. Because IL-20 is involved in the promotion of proliferation of epithelial cells it is also linked to the development of cancer. Receptors for IL-20 are very often expressed on tumorous cells of epithelial origin. High expression of IL-20 is also associated with bladder cancer. On the other hand, IL-20 is known to prevent tissue damage as a result of chronic inflammation which may reduce the chance of developing cancer. So the role of IL-20 in cancer development is ambiguous and needs to be further explored. IL-20 is an angiogenesis factor and is highly expressed in artery plaques found in patients with atherosclerosis.