The role of interleukin 13 receptor alpha 2 in inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer

Abstract

The therapeutic potential of interleukin 13 receptor alpha 2 (IL-13Rα2) has aroused considerable interest. IL-13Rα2 has long been considered to be a decoy receptor, but subsequent investigations have demonstrated that IL-13Rα2 also plays a crucial role in various inflammatory diseases and malignancies. IL-13Rα2 is capable of regulating several signaling pathways with the respective biological consequences. In this review, we summarize the role of IL-13Rα2 in inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer in order to provide an updated insight into therapeutic application of IL-13Rα2.