Description
The protein encoded by this gene is a cytokine that acts as a regulator of a variety of hematopoietic cells. Thiscytokine stimulates cell proliferation and prevents apoptosis. It functions through the interleukin 9 receptor(IL9R), which activates different signal transducer and activator (STAT) proteins and thus connects this cytokineto various biological processes. The gene encoding this cytokine has been identified as a candidate gene forasthma. Genetic studies on a mouse model of asthma demonstrated that this cytokine is a determining factor in thepathogenesis of bronchial hyperresponsiveness