Interleukin-37: a new therapeutic target in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) has long been considered a genetic renal disorder, but emerging evidence suggests that the immune microenvironment within the kidney plays a pivotal role in disease progression and severity. In recent years, the previously obscure cytokine interleukin-37 has proved a strong inhibitor of innate immunity in multiple disease models. However, its role in ADPKD has not received scrutiny. In a provocative study published in the current issue, Zylberberg et al. show that interleukin-37 activates interferon signaling in renal macrophages, which inhibits ADPKD initiation. This finding identifies interleukin-37 as a potential viable immunomodulatory therapy for ADPKD.