IL-35: a potential target for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

The imbalance of anti- inflammatory/pro-inflammatory cytokines plays an important role in the process of atherosclerosis. IL-35 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine comprising the p35 subunit of IL-12 and the subunit Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) -induced gene 3(EBI3). Accumulating evidence showed that IL-35 up-regulates the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines, induces the generation of CD4 + regulatory T cells, inhibits CD4 + effector T cells response and other target cells activity, and reduces the progression of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. In addition, it has been found that Ebi3 and p35 strongly coexpressed in human advanced lesions. Therefore, we hypothesize that IL-35 may become a novel target for the treatment of atherosclerosis. Further studies are required to investigate the precise effect and the signaling pathway of IL-35 in atherosclerosis process.