Interleukin-24 (IL-24)

Interleukin-24 is a secreted cytokine of the IL-10 family that acts through the IL-20R1/IL-20R2 and IL-22R1/IL-20R2 receptor complexes. It regulates immune responses, cell survival, proliferation, and wound healing. IL-24 is best known for inducing apoptosis selectively in cancer cells via ER stress and ROS pathways—making it a promising candidate for gene therapy and cellular immunotherapy in cancer. It also plays roles in protection against bacterial infections, tissue remodeling, and modulating inflammation, with strong relevance to skin diseases like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Therapeutic approaches include gene therapy using adenoviral vectors, as well as indirect targeting using cytokine modulators and JAK inhibitors. IL-24’s unique tumor selectivity presents both a clinical opportunity and a mechanistic question, as its pro-apoptotic effects are restricted to transformed cells and absent in normal cells, likely due to differences in cell stress responses.

Other names

Melanoma differentiation-associated gene 7 (mda-7)IL24

Induction of apoptosis via ER stress, ROS generation, ceramide production, JAK/STAT-independent and dependent pathways. Immunomodulation (downregulates regulatory T cell transcription factor FOXP3, influencing immune responses in cancer). Inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis (blocks Src signaling and VEGF/TGF-α activities in tumor cells).