title: Blocking interleukin-1 receptors.
abstract: During inflammation, injury, immunological challenge or infection, interleukin-1 appears to mediate, in part, the pathogenesis, of disease. Most studies on interleukin-1 are derived from experiments in which bacterial products, such as endotoxins from Gram-negative bacteria or exotoxins from Gram-positive organisms, are used to stimulate macrophagic cells. In general, several cytokines are induced by microbes to their products. Although cytokines are thought to play a role in the outcome of disease, only a few have been directly implicated as mediators of the pathogenic mechanisms of the host. Studies on specific inhibition of interleukin-1 activity have employed interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, interleukin-1 receptor blocking antibodies or soluble interleukin-1 receptors. Experiments in vitro, in animal models of disease and in human subjects have shed considerable light on a critical role for interleukin-1 in the pathogenesis of disease. This review focuses on interleukin-1 as a cytokine of strategic importance to the outcome of disease, particularly inflammatory and infectious diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dinarello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology*; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000209:etiology*; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha