title: Functions of interleukin 1 receptor antagonist in gene knockout and overproducing mice.
abstract: Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) is a cytokine whose only known action is competitive inhibition of the binding of interleukin 1 (IL-1) to its receptor. To investigate the physiological roles of endogenously produced IL-1ra, we generated mice that either lack IL-1ra or overproduce it under control of the endogenous promoter. Mice lacking IL-1ra have decreased body mass compared with wild-type controls. They are more susceptible than controls to lethal endotoxemia but are less susceptible to infection with Listeria monocytogenes. Conversely, IL-1ra overproducers are protected from the lethal effects of endotoxin but are more susceptible to listeriosis. Serum levels of IL-1 following an endotoxin challenge are decreased in IL-1ra nulls and increased in IL-1ra overproducers in comparison to controls. These data demonstrate critical roles for endogenously produced IL-1ra in growth, responses to infection and inflammation, and regulation of cytokine expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Irikura
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hirsh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000276:immunology; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: C507764:Il1rn protein, mouse; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins