The Role Of Interleukin-1 (IL-1)
IL-1 belongs to the IL-1 superfamily of cytokines
and cytokine receptors, comprising 11 distinct
family members with both pro- and anti-inflammatory functions.5-7
The master cytokine of inflammation
Multiple characteristics have led to IL-1 being
referred to as a master cytokine of local and systemic
inflammation4,5:
- Highly proinflammatory
- Drives multiple proinflammatory functions
- Stimulates other proinflammatory cytokines
(eg, IL-6 and TNF-α) - Mediates inflammation in virtually every tissue
in the body - Stimulates its own production
The significance of IL-1α and IL-1β
IL-1α and IL-1β play an important role in the
autoinflammatory cycle of recurrent pericarditis.
The IL-1α precursor is present and active
inside healthy cells. During pericardial injury, cell
death occurs and IL-1α is released and able
to activate adjacent cells bearing the IL-1 receptor.
In contrast, IL-1β is inactive and a product of specific
immune cells. It needs to be cleaved by caspase-1,
which itself requires activation after assembly of
the inflammasome.2,5