Linking genetic susceptibility to Crohnʼs disease with Th17 cell function: IL-22 serum levels are increased in Crohnʼs disease and correlate with disease activity and IL23R genotype status

Abstract

The Th17 cytokine IL-22 is expressed at high levels in CD and correlates with disease activity, offering a better separation between active and inactive CD than IL-6 and TNF-alpha. IL23R genotypes influence IL-22 serum expression, linking genetic CD susceptibility to Th17 cell function for the first time.