Epithelial tissues serve as crucial barriers that interact with harmful pathogens and harmless microbes, requiring them to effectively sense and respond to these entities.
The cytokine interleukin-36γ (IL-36γ) functions as a key player in distinguishing between harmful pathogens and harmless microbes based on cell damage and proteolytic activation.
IL-36γ is released and activated in response to damage caused by pathogens, making it essential for initiating immune responses and inflammation in epithelial tissues.