Roles of interleukins in spasmolytic polypeptide‑expressing metaplasia (Review)

Gastric cancer (GC) is a major global health burden, ranking fifth in incidence and third in cancer‑related mortality. By 2040, there are expected to be ~1.8 million new cases and 1.3 million fatalities associated with GC. Spasmolytic polypeptide‑expressing metaplasia (SPEM) is a central component of gastric precancerous lesions, which remodels the gastric mucosa in response to injury through a lineage of mucus‑secreting cells. Interleukins (ILs) are the communication means for innate and adaptive immune cells as well as non‑immune cells and tissues. Their complex network regulation contributes to the development of SPEM and is a key driver in the transformation of SPEM to GC. The present review systematically described the IL‑related mechanisms underlying the formation and progression of SPEM and categorizes the roles of different ILs by family. In addition, the molecular association between IL dynamics and SPEM following Helicobacter pylori infection is explored, and various SPEM experimental model characteristics and IL‑based therapeutic strategy advances and limitations are discussed. The clinical translation of IL‑targeted therapies is limited, but the development of therapies that target pathogenesis specifically and the enhancement of IL therapy combinations with other therapeutic options may improve efficacy and reduce side effects. Increased understanding of the causes of SPEM and the mechanisms underlying GC may open up new avenues for early detection and targeted therapy.