title: The effect of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist on arteries and cholesterol metabolism.
abstract: This review summarizes both the structure and function of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), and relates our new findings, particularly those obtained in IL-1Ra-deficient mice (IL-1Ra(-/-)), to the role of IL-1Ra in arterial diseases and cholesterol metabolism. IL-1Ra(-/-) mice show an increase in neointima-formation after arterial injury. Heterozygosity in the IL-1Ra gene against the apolipoprotein E-deficient background revealed a role for IL-1 in promoting atherogenic cell signaling and that the larger lesions of IL-1Ra(-/-) mice are enriched in macrophages and depleted of smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, IL-1Ra(-/-) mice developed severe fatty livers and hypercholesteroremia following 20 weeks on a atherogenic diet compared to WT mice. Taken together, these results suggest that IL-1Ra plays important roles in restenosis after angioplasty, the development of atherosclerosis, and the metabolism of cholesterol in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine I, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan. isoda@me.ndmc.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kikuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isoda
authors.forename: Fumitaka
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ohsuzu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D002784:Cholesterol