title: Modalities for reducing interleukin 1 activity in disease.
abstract: The therapeutic advantage of reducing the activity of interleukin 1 (IL-1) resides in preventing its deleterious biological effects without interfering with homeostasis. As such, methods attempting to block the production or activity of IL-1 have now entered clinical trials. For example, IL-1 induction of prostaglandins is one target in treating disease, and drugs preventing the production of inhibiting cyclooxygenase have well-known toxicities because they block the normal synthesis of prostaglandins in many tissues. IL-1 blockading agents, in contrast, affect only that portion of prostaglandin synthesis due to elevated IL-1, sparing the synthesis of these molecules for homeostasis. Charles Dinarello reviews the unique pharmacological advantages of manipulating IL-1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New England Medical Center Hospital, Boston, MA 02111.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dinarello
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000628:therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003092:Colitis / Q000628:therapy; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000628:therapy; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1; D011453:Prostaglandins; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1