title: Biological role of interleukin 1 receptor antagonist isoforms.
abstract: The interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL1Ra) family of molecules now includes one secreted isoform (sIL1Ra) and three intracellular isoforms (icIL1Ra1, 2, and 3). Extensive evidence indicates that the sole biological function of sIL1Ra seems to be to competitively inhibit IL1 binding to cell-surface receptors. Although intracellular IL1Ra1 may be released from keratinocytes under some conditions, the intracellular isoforms of IL1Ra may carry out additional as yet poorly defined roles inside cells. Maintenance of a balance between IL1 and IL1Ra is important in preventing the development or progression of inflammatory disease in certain organs. Both the secreted and intracellular isoforms of IL1Ra contribute to maintenance of this balance. An allelic polymorphism in intron 2 of the IL1Ra gene (IL1RN*2) predisposes to the development or severity of a variety of human diseases largely of epithelial cell origin. Both the impaired production of IL1Ra and the overproduction of IL1beta are related to the presence of this allele. Restoration of the balance between IL1Ra and IL1 through a variety of approaches is a therapeutic goal in specific chronic inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, Denver, CO 80262, USA. William.Arend@UCHSC.edu
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Arend
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Guthridge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000628:therapy; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000502:physiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins