Description
Interleukin 5 or IL-5 is an interleukin produced by T helper-2 cells and mast cells. Its functions are to stimulate B cell growth and increase immunoglobulin secretion. It is the main factor that promotes the terminal differentiation of eosinophil progenitors and enhances the effector capacity of mature eosinophils. IL-5 is a TH2 cytokine which is part of the hematopoietic family. Unlike other members of this cytokine family in its active form, this glycoprotein is a homodimer. IL-5 expression is regulated by several transcription factors including GATA-3