Therapeutic Role of Interleukin 22 in experimental intra-abdominal Klebsiella pneumoniae infection in mice. Mus musculus

Interleukin (IL)-is an IL-10-related cytokine produced by T helper (Th) 17 cells and other immune cells that signals via IL-22 receptor alpha 1 which is expressed on epithelial tissues as well as hepatocytes. IL-22 has been shown to have hepatoprotective effects that are mediated by STAT3 signaling. However, it is unclear if IL-22 can directly regulate antimicrobial programs in the liver. To test this hypothesis, hepatocyte-specific IL-22Ra1 knockout (Il22Ra1Hep-/-) and Stat3 knockout (Stat3Hep-/-) mice were generated and subjected to intraabdominal infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) that results in liver injury and necrosis.