title: The "interleukin 1 receptor antagonist" is a partial agonist of prostaglandin synthesis by human decidual cells.
abstract: In many systems the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist opposes the effects of interleukin-1 beta. We considered that it might block interleukin-1 beta-stimulated prostaglandin production from human decidual cells. Very high levels of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (> 1000 pg/ml) had limited inhibitory effects on IL-1 beta-stimulated PGE2 synthesis, and lower levels of antagonist (< 1000 pg/ml) increased the effects of IL-1 beta. Low concentrations of the antagonist alone (1-100 pg/ml) increased basal PGE2 production, whereas higher levels (10-100 ng/ml) had less effect. It seems, therefore, that in human decidua the "antagonist" is more accurately described as a partial agonist. It has been suggested that the IL-1 receptor antagonist could be used to inhibit decidual prostaglandin synthesis and thereby prevent preterm labor, but this report shows that caution should be exercised before using the receptor antagonist.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: O F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Elder
mesh_terms: D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003656:Decidua / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D003513:Cycloheximide; D015232:Dinoprostone