The expression of IL-16 in immune and tumor related diseases and its anti-tumor application research

Corresponding author: Yao Jin, kmyaojin@163.com

DOI: 10.12201/bmr.202603.00011

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  Abstract: Interleukin-16 (IL-16) is a lymphocyte chemoattractant that forms a biologically active homotetramer through cleavage of its precursor protein by caspase-3. It exerts its biological functions by binding to receptors such as CD4, CD9, and CCR5. Primarily expressed by cells of the human immune system, IL-16 exhibits elevated levels in the circulatory system as well as at sites of inflammation, infection, and cancer. It plays a significant role in immune regulation, inflammatory responses, and modulation of the tumor microenvironment. Although IL-16 is expressed in various immune and non-immune cells, its expression levels and mechanisms of action differ substantially across cell types, making IL-16 expression a promising indicator for disease diagnosis and dynamic monitoring. Furthermore, polymorphisms in the IL-16 gene are associated with susceptibility to multiple diseases, and IL-16 has been proposed as a biomarker for predicting disease prognosis. In recent years, research on tumor-targeted and immunotherapeutic strategies has become increasingly refined. As a candidate for novel drug targeting, IL-16-related antibodies have demonstrated positive therapeutic effects in various diseases. This article systematically reviews the biological characteristics, expression patterns, associations with multiple diseases, and applications in cancer therapy of IL-16, aiming to provide insights for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic assessment of inflammation-, immune-, and tumor-related disorders.

  Key words: IL-16; cytokine; tumor microenvironment; immunomodulation; targeted therapy; biomarkers

  Submit time: 6 March 2026

  Copyright: The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted biomedRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity.
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  1	2026-01-30	10.12201/bmr.202603.00011V1	Download

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