Description
IL-1 (Interleukin-1) is a proinflammatory cytokine that stimulates a broad spectrum of immune and inflammatory responses. IL-1 is produced by activated macrophages, endothelia cells, B-Cells, and fibroblast cells. It induces inflammatory responses, edema, promotes the production of Prostaglandins, IL-2, and the growth of leukocytes (Ref.1). There are two forms of IL-1 encoded by distinct genes, IL-1 Alpha and IL-1 Beta. IL-1 Beta is produced as a 269 amino acid precursor that is cleaved by ICE (IL-1Beta Converting Enzyme) to the active IL-1 Beta form that is secreted. IL-1 induces cellular response through two subunits of its receptor, IL-1R1 (IL-1 Receptor1) and IL-1RAcP (IL-1 Receptor Accessory Protein). When it binds to its cell-surface receptor, IL-1 initiates a signaling cascade that leads to activation of the transcription factors like NF- KappaB (Nuclear Factor-KappaB), Activating Protein-1, and ATF (Activating Transcription Factor), thus stimulating the expression of various genes in different target cells (Ref.1 & 2). References:
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