| Summary: | Brain tumor is unchecked growth of brain cells disrupting many of its important functions and, affecting molecular regulatory and signaling networks. Glioblastoma is one of the most deleterious tumors of human brain. Cytokines are secondary messenger molecules in many of the immunological and other biochemical reactions. With glioblastoma progression, various cytokines are secreted that either up-regulate or down-regulate many others with immunological function. Interleukins are a family of cytokines acting mainly as immune-regulatory proteins. They have been implicated in brain tumor initiation, progression and invasion. Due to their multiple and varied regulatory roles at every stage of tumor, they are now becoming an attractive target for study in glioblastoma. This mini review briefly summarizes the types and roles of major interleukins and their regulation and, effects in glioblastoma that have been studied so far. Immunotherapeutic aspects are particularly emphasized as the promising therapeutic targets to control brain tumors. Main types of interleukins which are implicated in brain tumors are discussed here which includes interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-12 (IL-12). Glioblastoma is one of the most invasive tumor and still lack effective control measures clinically. Conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy are not only ineffective in controlling the spread of glioblastoma, but also have damaging and unwanted side effects on healthy cells. Immunotherapy by blocking and/or increasing the action of certain interleukins has proven to be effective control measure in laboratory investigations. Future work extending these findings to clinical and human trials is expected to provide effective treatment measures.
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