Interleukin-36 gamma (IL-36γ) is a member of the interleukin 1 cytokine family that includes three closely related genes, IL-36α, β, and γ, formerly known as IL-1F6, F8, and F9 respectively. IL-36α has been detected in both neuronal and synovial tissue, whereas IL-36β and IL-36γ are expressed in both cutaneous and mucosal epithelial cells, including the respiratory tract. IL-36β and IL-36γ stimulate proliferation, maturation and/or cytokine expression by innate immune cells (such as keratinocytes and dendritic cells), and adaptive immune cells (neutrophils and T-cells) in both humans and mice. The activity of IL-36α is mediated by interleukin 1 receptor-like 2 (IL1RL2/IL1R-rp2), and is specifically inhibited by interleukin 1 family, member 5 (IL1F5/IL-1 delta). IL-36γ plays an important role in communicating the cell death to surrounding cells.
