Interleukin-36 (IL-36) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which plays an important role in the pathophysiology of several diseases. IL-36α, IL-36β, and IL-36γ (formerly IL-1F6, IL-1F8, and IL-1F9) are IL-1 family members that signal through the IL-1 receptor family members IL-1Rrp2 (IL-1RL2) and IL-1RAcP. IL-36 beta is reported to be expressed at higher levels in psoriatic plaques than in symptomless psoriatic skin or healthy control skin and it can stimulate production of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 in synovial fibrobasts, articular chondrocytes and mature adipocytes. It has two isoforms. IL-36β isoform 2 contains one potential N-linked glycosylation site in its C-terminus, while IL-36β isoform 1 lacks potential N-linked glycosylation sites and four of the conserved β-strands. Human IL-36βisoform 2 shares 62 %, 67 %, 63 % and 59 % a.a. identity with the most similar isoform of mouse, canine, bovine and equine IL-36β, respectively.
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