title: Biology of IL-36 cytokines and their role in disease.
abstract: IL-36α, IL-36β, IL-36γ, and IL-36Ra, collectively called IL-36 cytokines, are part of the IL-1 family. IL-36α, IL-36β, and IL-36γ are IL-36 receptor (IL-36R) agonists, while IL-36Ra is a receptor antagonist that blocks the activation of IL-36R signaling. IL-36 cytokines require processing in order to become fully active, however the protease(s) responsible for this are currently not known. The IL-36 receptor pathway activates dendritic cells and plays a role in polarizing T-helper responses. The skin is the predominant site where IL-36 cytokines are expressed and several reports have established that they play a significant role in the pathogenesis of skin diseases. In this review the discovery and biological function of the cytokines IL-36α, IL-36β, IL-36γ and IL-36Ra will be discussed, and their role in the pathogenesis of a wide variety of diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Nijmegen Institute for Infection, Inflammation, and Immunity (N4i), The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gresnigt
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Nijmegen Institute for Infection, Inflammation, and Immunity (N4i), The Netherlands; Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA. Electronic address: Frank.vandeVeerdonk@radboudumc.nl.
authors.forename: Frank L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: van de Veerdonk
mesh_terms: D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C508586:IL36A protein, human; C508588:IL36B protein, human; C508589:IL36G protein, human; C122187:IL36RN protein, human; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007378:Interleukins; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin
keywords: IL-1 family; Interleukin-36; Pathogenesis; Skin inflammation