title: Differential activity of interleukin 1 alpha and interleukin 1 beta in the stimulation of the immune response in vivo.
abstract: The biological activities of human recombinant interleukin (IL) 1 alpha and IL 1 beta were compared in different biological systems. The two IL 1 forms were equally active in vitro in inducing proliferation of murine thymocytes and of the murine T helper clone D10.G4.1, and in triggering release of prostaglandin E2 from human skin fibroblasts. In vivo, IL 1 alpha and IL 1 beta were similarly pyrogenic both in rabbits and mice, and could equally increase the circulating levels of the acute phase protein serum amyloid A in mice. However, only IL 1 beta showed immunostimulatory activity in vivo, as it could enhance the number of specific antibody-producing cells in the spleen of mice immunized with either a T-dependent or a T-independent antigen. Although devoid of immunostimulatory activity, IL 1 alpha could efficiently compete immunostimulation induced by IL 1 beta, suggesting an effective interaction with the IL 1 receptor. Thus, IL 1 beta appears to have an important role in the positive regulation of immune responses, while IL 1 alpha may act as down-regulator of the IL 1 beta effect.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, Sclavo Research Center, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boraschi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Volpini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bossù
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Censini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghiara
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scapigliat
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nencioni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bartalini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matteucci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D011749:Pyrogens; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D011749:Pyrogens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015232:Dinoprostone