Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a ligand for ST2, a toll-like/interleukin-1 receptor super-family member that associates with an accessory protein, IL-1 RAcP (for reviews, see, e.g., Kakkar and Lee, Nature Reviews—Drug Discovery 7(10):827-840 (2008), Schmitz et al., Immunity 23:479-490 (2005); Liew et al., Nature Reviews—Immunology 10:103-110 (2010); US 2010/0260770; US 2009/0041718). Upon activation of ST2/IL-1 RAcP by IL-33, a signaling cascade is triggered through downstream molecules such as MyD88 (myeloid differentiation factor 88) and TRAF6 (TNF receptor associated factor 6), leading to activation of NFκB (nuclear factor-κB), among others. IL-33 signaling has been implicated as a factor in a variety of diseases and disorders. (Liew et al., Nature Reviews—Immunology 10:103-110 (2010)).
USPTO Backgrounds
USPTO Backgrounds