New insights on IL‑36 in intestinal inflammation and colorectal cancer (Review)

Interleukin (IL)-36 is a member of the IL-1 superfamily, which includes three receptor agonists and one antagonist and exhibits a familial feature of inflammatory regulation. Distributed among various tissues, such as the skin, lung, gut and joints, the mechanism of IL-36 has been most completely investigated in the skin and has been used in clinical treatment of generalized pustular psoriasis. Meanwhile, the role of IL-36 in the intestine has also been under scrutiny and has been shown to be involved in the regulation of various intestinal diseases. Inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer are the most predominant inflammatory and neoplastic diseases of the intestine, and multiple studies have identified a complex role for IL-36 in both of them. Indeed, inhibiting IL-36 signaling is currently regarded as a promising therapeutic approach. Therefore, the present review briefly describes the composition and expression of IL-36 and focuses on the role of IL-36 in intestinal inflammation and colorectal cancer. The targeted therapies that are currently being developed for the IL-36 receptor are also discussed.