Elevated production of IL-36α in chronic hepatitis B virus-infected patients correlates with viral load.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection is a typical inflammatory disease characterized by a dysregulated expression of cytokines, which contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. IL-36 cytokines (IL-36α, IL-36β, IL-36γ and IL-36Ra) are important players in infection and immunity. However, their roles in the pathogenesis of chronic HBV infection remain unknown.