Discription：Human IL-31 gene is located on Chr.12. It expresses the IL-31 protein at low levels in the type 2 helper T cells, which exits in testis, bone marrow, skeletal muscle, kidney, colon, thymus, small intestine and trachea. This protein shares several structural and functional characteristics with IL-6, Oncostatin M, LIF, and Cardiotrophin-1. IL-31 signals through IL-31 receptor A and Oncostatin M receptor subunits and can activate STAT3 through receptors and maybe involve in skin immunity. It regulated immune responses have been implicated in skin physiology and inflammatory skin diseases. Human IL-31 shares only 24％ a.a. sequence identity in the mature protein with mouse IL-31. Recombinant IL-31 is a single non-glycosylated polypeptide chain containing 141 amino acids.
