Interleukin-28 receptor


Interleukin-28 receptor is a type II cytokine receptor found in skin cells. It binds interleukin-28 A and B as well as interleukin 29. It consists of an α and shares a common β subunit with the interleukin-10 receptor. Binding to the interleukin-28 receptor is important for fighting infection.

Structure

The interleukin-28 receptor is a complex made up of two protein chains; the interleukin-28 receptor alpha chain and the beta chain from another interleukin receptor.

Location

The Interleukin-28 receptor is found in skin cells, specifically keratinocytes and melanocytes found in the epidermis.  It binds to the cytokine interleukin-28 that is produced by immune cells, specifically regulatory T cells and maturing dendritic cells, and other skin cells that have been virally infected.

Function

When the cytokine Interleukin-28 binds to the interleukin-28 receptor it causes several cellular responses that aid the skin cells in fighting infection.  In binding to the receptor interleukin-28 cell growth is inhibited and the cell begins to produce cellular receptors that can sense infection as well as proteins to fight a viral infection. The interleukin-28 receptor, once a ligand is bound will activate a signaling pathway that caused in increase in MHC class 1 production.