Interleukin 1 (IL-1) is an endogenously produced cytokine that mediates a variety of physiological effects that may be beneficial or deleterious to the host. C57Bl/6 mice treated intravenously with a recently characterized human recombinant receptor antagonist protein to IL-1 (IL-1ra) had improved survival when treated after a lethal Escherichia coli endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) challen...

In addition to the well-known modulation of immune and inflammatory responses, the interleukin-1 (IL-1) system has been shown to be involved in the regulation of anterior pituitary hormone secretion and growth. We previously demonstrated that IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) is expressed in human pituitary adenomas cultured in vitro. In the present study, we investigated the regulation of IL-1...

OBJECTIVES Interferon beta (IFNβ) therapy is effective in multiple sclerosis and murine models of arthritis. Surprisingly, systemic IFNβ treatment induces only minimal improvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To explain this paradox, the authors evaluated the mechanism of IFNβ benefit in passive K/BxN arthritis and the effect of IFNβ treatment on RA synovium. METHODS Interleukin 10 (IL-10) n...

AIMS Acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) are driven by inflammation within coronary plaque. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has an established role in atherogenesis and the vessel-response to injury. ACS patients have raised serum markers of inflammation. We hypothesized that if IL-1 is a driving influence of inflammation in non-ST elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS), IL-1 inhibition would reduce the inflammatory respon...

IL-1 plays a key role in disc degeneration and could be a valid target for inhibiting this process. IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) might be a good candidate to inhibit IL-1 activity. However, many questions need to be addressed before contemplating therapy in humans. IL-1 blockade is also a great challenge in osteoarthritis and results from animal models suggest that IL-1ra may have benefici...

There is strong evidence for the involvement of inflammatory mediators such as interleukin (IL)-1 in the biochemical mechanisms of parturition. Therefore the effects of the IL-1 family (IL-1alpha (1 ng/ml), IL-1beta (1 ng/ml) and the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) (10 ng/ml)) on the regulation of prostaglandin synthesis in term human fetal membranes were investigated. It was found that, afte...

OBJECTIVES Community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus necrotizing pneumonia is a life-threatening disease. Panton Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) has been associated with necrotizing pneumonia. PVL triggers inflammasome activation in human macrophages leading to IL-1β release. IL-1β activates lung epithelial cells to release IL-8. This study aimed to assess the relevance of this inflammatory cascade i...

Anakinra, the recombinant form of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), has been approved for clinical use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis as the drug Kineret trade mark, but it must be administered daily by subcutaneous injection. Gene transfer may offer a more effective means of delivery. In this study, using prostaglandin E2 production as a measure of stimulation, we quantitatively com...

Interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) is a major cause for induction of various inflammatory mechanisms that are decisively involved to provoke pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory antagonist of IL-1β has been recently approved for treatment of T2DM but due to its short half-life, higher doses and frequent dosing...

OBJECTIVES The cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 mediates ischaemic brain damage in rodents. The endogenous, highly selective, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) protects against ischaemic cerebral injury in a range of experimental settings, and IL-1ra causes a marked reduction of cell death when administered peripherally or at a delay in transient cerebral ischaemia. We report here the first randomis...