Upregulation of IL-36 cytokines in folliculitis and eosinophilic pustular folliculitis.

Background: Members of the interleukin (IL)-36 family, IL-36α, IL-36β and IL-36γ, are potent chemoattractive cytokines for neutrophils and eosinophils. IL-36 receptor antagonist (IL-36Ra) inhibits IL-36α, IL-36β and IL-36γ activity. However, the immunohistological expression of IL-36α, IL-36β, IL-36γ and IL-36Ra has never been addressed in normal follicles, folliculitis or eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF).