Interleukin-36 Cytokines in Infectious and Non-Infectious Lung Diseases.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Molecular Biology
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• The IL-36 cytokine family, a subgroup of IL-1 cytokines, has been studied for its role in inflammation since the early 2000s.
• While research predominantly focused on autoimmune skin conditions like psoriasis, recent evidence highlights IL-36's significance in lung inflammatory responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the biological mechanisms of IL-36 cytokines, including their production, activation, and cellular effects.
• To examine the involvement of IL-36 in various lung inflammatory diseases, both infectious and non-infectious.
• To discuss current therapeutic strategies targeting the IL-36 pathway and their potential application in lung diseases.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on IL-36 cytokine biology and function.
• Analysis of research on IL-36's role in infectious lung diseases (bacterial, influenza).
• Examination of IL-36 involvement in non-infectious lung conditions (asthma, fibrosis, COPD, cystic fibrosis, cancer).

Main Results:

• IL-36 cytokines influence myeloid and lymphoid cell activity during inflammation.
• IL-36 plays a role in the pathogenesis of diverse lung diseases, including infections and chronic inflammatory conditions.
• Targeting the IL-36 pathway shows therapeutic potential for inflammatory lung diseases.

Conclusions:

• IL-36 cytokines are critical mediators of lung inflammation with implications across a spectrum of respiratory diseases.
• Understanding IL-36 biology provides a basis for developing novel therapeutic interventions for lung pathologies.
• The therapeutic potential of IL-36 pathway inhibitors warrants further investigation for treating lung inflammatory diseases.