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GeneE
10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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IL36A
interleukin 36 alpha
Chromosome 2 · 2q14.1
NCBI Gene: 27179Ensembl: ENSG00000136694.9HGNC: HGNC:15562UniProt: Q9UHA7
73PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
protein bindingcytokine activityimmune responsecytokine-mediated signaling pathwaypsoriasishepatocellular carcinomapsoriatic arthritiscolorectal carcinoma
✦AI Summary

IL36A (interleukin 36 alpha) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that signals through the IL-36 receptor to activate NF-κB and MAPK pathways, driving immune responses at epithelial barriers 1. The primary function of IL36A involves orchestrating skin inflammation by acting on keratinocytes, dendritic cells, and T cells. In keratinocytes, IL36A induces expression of chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, CXCL8, CXCL1) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF, IL-6, IL-8), while in dendritic cells it promotes maturation and T-cell proliferation 1. Transcriptionally, C/EBPβ acts as a key regulator of IL36A expression in macrophages following LPS stimulation 2. Clinically, IL36A dysregulation is implicated in multiple inflammatory skin diseases including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and hidradenitis suppurativa 1. In atopic dermatitis specifically, elevated IL36A expression correlates with stronger clinical response to dupilumab therapy and represents part of a stable disease signature characterized by IL-1 signaling dysregulation 3. Emerging evidence suggests IL36A involvement extends beyond dermatology; increased cerebrospinal fluid IL36A levels associate with bipolar disorder risk 45. The IL-36/IL-36R axis has been recognized as a promising therapeutic target for inflammatory disorders.

Sources cited
1
IL36A is a pro-inflammatory member of the IL-1 cytokine family signaling through IL-36R via NF-κB pathway, expressed at barrier sites including skin, lungs, and intestine; implicated in psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and other inflammatory disorders
PMID: 38189700
2
High IL36A expression in atopic dermatitis lesional skin correlates with stronger clinical response to dupilumab therapy and represents part of a stable disease signature along with IL-31/IL-1 signaling dysregulation
PMID: 32615169
3
C/EBPβ transcription factor acts as a key regulator of IL36A gene expression in macrophages, particularly in response to LPS inflammatory stimuli through a half-CRE•C/EBP promoter element
PMID: 26066982
4
Elevated IL36A levels in cerebrospinal fluid exhibit significant associations with increased bipolar disorder risk via Mendelian randomization analysis
PMID: 39191728
5
Increased IL36A in cerebrospinal fluid correlates with increased bipolar disorder risk and represents a potential drug target, confirmed through multiple validation cohorts
PMID: 38720515
6
IL36A is more prominently expressed in pediatric-onset atopic dermatitis persisting into adulthood compared to adult-onset disease, indicating age-of-onset related endophenotypes
PMID: 37032461
7
IL36A expression increases with age in healthy gingival tissues and is significantly decreased throughout ligature-induced periodontitis disease progression and resolution
PMID: 35048048
8
IL-36 is a powerful pro-inflammatory cytokine capable of activating mast cells, with IL-38 serving as a natural inhibitor through IL-36R binding
PMID: 30656901
Disease Associationsⓘ20
psoriasisOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
psoriatic arthritisOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
colorectal carcinomaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
Alzheimer diseaseOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
non-small cell lung carcinomaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
Guillain-Barre syndromeOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
Bloom syndromeOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
placental retentionOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
hypertensionOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
esophageal squamous cell carcinomaOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
systemic lupus erythematosusOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
asthmaOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
esophageal adenocarcinomaOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
SepsisOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
atopic eczemaOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
cancerOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpuraOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
IL1F10Shared pathway100%IL1RL2Protein interaction100%IL1RAPProtein interaction91%IL36GShared pathway80%IL1AProtein interaction79%IL36BProtein interaction71%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Lung
0%
Brain
0%
Bone Marrow
0%
Ovary
0%
Heart
0%
Liver
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
IL36AIL1F10IL1RL2IL1RAPIL36GIL1AIL36B
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB6HPI · NMR
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.36LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.76 [0.44–1.36]
RankingsWhere IL36A stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #6,473of 20,598
    Most Researched73
  • #14,235of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.36
Genes detectedIL36A
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Atopic dermatitis displays stable and dynamic skin transcriptome signatures.
PMID: 32615169
J Allergy Clin Immunol · 2021
1.00
2
Emerging Role of the IL-36/IL-36R Axis in Multiple Inflammatory Skin Diseases.
PMID: 38189700
J Invest Dermatol · 2024
0.90
3
Age of onset defines two distinct profiles of atopic dermatitis in adults.
PMID: 37032461
Allergy · 2023
0.80
4
Identifying novel proteins underlying bipolar disorder via integrating pQTLs of the plasma, CSF, and brain with GWAS summary data.
PMID: 39191728
Transl Psychiatry · 2024
0.70
5
Oral Microbiome and Gingival Gene Expression of Inflammatory Biomolecules With Aging and Periodontitis.
PMID: 35048048
Front Oral Health · 2021
0.60