Figure 2.

Environmental interaction of IL-1 family cytokines in skin injury. Schematic illustrating the mechanisms by which IL-1 family cytokines can sense environmental threats and orchestrate a subsequent immunological response. Epidermal damage through infection or injury releases IL-1 cytokines. Immature cytokines are activated by environmental proteases expressed by pathogens during infection or allergens present in the environment. Active released cytokines stimulate surrounding epidermis and resident immune cells to facilitate immune cell recruitment to mount an appropriate immune response.