title: Interleukin 1 alpha is a marker of endothelial cellular senescent.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The functional changes associated with endothelial senescence may be involved in human aging and age-related vascular disorders. Since the inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL-)1 inhibits endothelial growth, we evaluated the expression of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and their antagonist, the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), in endothelial in vitro senescence and quiescence. We also examined the expression of IL-1alpha in human senescent and progeric fibroblasts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the overexpression of IL-1alpha specifically characterizes endothelial senescence. No modulation of this cytokine was observed in endothelial quiescence and in senescent or progeric human fibroblasts. The expression of IL-1beta and IL-1ra was also assessed and found not to be affected by senescence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that a dysfunction of the cytokine network associates with aging and point to a specific role of IL-1alpha in endothelial senescence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preclinical Sciences, University of Milan Medical School, Via GB Grassi, 74 Milan, Italy. massimo.mariotti@unimi.it
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castiglioni
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bernardini
authors.forename: Jeanette A M
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Maier