IL37: Interleukin 37 Gene - Anti-Inflammatory Cytokine
Comprehensive gene card for IL37, including expression, mutations, and disease associations.
Gene Information Card
| Symbol | IL37 |
|---|---|
| Full Name | interleukin 37 |
| Gene Type | protein-coding |
| Chromosomal Location | 2q12-q14.1 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 27178 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/27178 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000125510 |
| UniProt ID | Q9NZH6 |
| OMIM ID | 605620 |
| HGNC ID | 6076 |
| Aliases | FIL1Z, IL-37, IL-1F7, IL-1H4, IL-1RP1, IL-1X, IL1F7, IL1H4, IL1RP1 |
Description
IL37 (interleukin 37) is a member of the interleukin-1 cytokine family. It functions as a fundamental anti-inflammatory cytokine that suppresses innate immune responses and reduces inflammation. IL37 binds to the IL-18 receptor alpha chain (IL-18Rα) and recruits the decoy receptor IL-1R8 (SIGIRR), forming a signaling complex that inhibits NF-κB and MAPK pathways. It is expressed in various tissues and immune cells, and its dysregulation is implicated in inflammatory diseases, autoimmune disorders, and cancers.
Disease Associations
| Disease category | Pathophysiological mechanism | Genomic evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | Reduced IL37 expression leads to insufficient suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, contributing to joint inflammation and destruction. | PMID: 21858062, NCBI Gene |
| Inflammatory Bowel Disease | IL37 downregulation in intestinal mucosa correlates with increased TNF-α and IL-1β, exacerbating chronic inflammation. | PMID: 24614022, NCBI Gene |
| Psoriasis | Decreased IL37 levels in skin lesions fail to inhibit keratinocyte proliferation and inflammatory cytokine production. | PMID: 25605297, NCBI Gene |
| Systemic Lupus Erythematosus | Polymorphisms in IL37 are associated with altered cytokine balance and disease susceptibility. | PMID: 23913624, OMIM |
| Colorectal Cancer | IL37 overexpression in tumor cells suppresses tumor growth and metastasis by modulating the tumor microenvironment. | PMID: 28251988, COSMIC |
Expression Profile
Tissue Expression
| Tissue | nTPM | level |
|---|---|---|
| Lymph node | 11.2 | Medium |
| Spleen | 9.8 | Medium |
| Bone marrow | 7.5 | Medium |
| Skin | 4.3 | Low |
| Lung | 3.1 | Low |
| Colon | 2.8 | Low |
| Small intestine | 2.5 | Low |
| Kidney | 1.9 | Not detected |
Cell Line Expression
| Cell Line | nTPM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| THP-1 (monocyte) | 15.4 | High expression after LPS stimulation |
| U937 (monocyte) | 12.1 | Moderate expression |
| HeLa (cervical) | 2.3 | Low expression |
| A549 (lung) | 1.8 | Low expression |
| HCT116 (colon) | 1.5 | Low expression |
Data source：Human Protein Atlas（proteinatlas.org）
Mutations & Variants
Hotspot Mutations
| Variant | Type | Frequency | Functional Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| rs3811047 (G>A) | SNP | 0.15 (global) | Missense variant (p.Ala48Thr); associated with altered IL37 function in inflammatory diseases |
| rs2723186 (C>T) | SNP | 0.22 (global) | Intronic variant; linked to rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility |
| rs3811046 (A>G) | SNP | 0.18 (global) | Missense variant (p.Thr42Ala); may affect protein stability |
Mutation functional classification
Loss of Function (LOF)
rs3811047 (p.Ala48Thr) reduces anti-inflammatory activity by impairing receptor binding.
Gain of Function (GOF)
No confirmed gain-of-function mutations reported in IL37.
Dominant Negative (DN)
No dominant-negative mutations described for IL37.
View complete mutation data：
Gene Ontology (GO)
Pathways
• Interleukin-1 family signaling (Reactome: R-HSA-446652)
• IL-37 anti-inflammatory pathway (PMID: 21858062)
• NF-κB signaling (negative regulation)
Protein Summary
IL37 is a 17-25 kDa cytokine (isoform-dependent) that is synthesized as a precursor and cleaved by caspase-1 to generate a mature form. It is secreted or remains intracellular, where it can translocate to the nucleus and regulate gene expression. The protein contains an interleukin-1 family domain and binds to IL-18Rα/IL-1R8 complex to exert its anti-inflammatory effects. IL37 is expressed at low levels in most tissues but is upregulated in response to pro-inflammatory stimuli. It plays a critical role in limiting excessive inflammation and maintaining immune homeostasis.
Related Services
Related Products
| Product name | Cat.No. | Species | Gene ID | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IL37 Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ1410 | Human | 27178 | Details Get a Quote |
| IL37 Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ56022 | Human | 27178 | Details Get a Quote |
| IL37 Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ64508 | Human | 27178 | Details Get a Quote |
| IL37 Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ72966 | Human | 27178 | Details Get a Quote |
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