Two forms of interleukin-1, designated IL-1α and IL-1β, have been described. Although encoded by distinct genes and exhibiting roughly only 25% sequence identity, IL-1α and IL-1β bind to the same receptor and seem to elicit similar biological responses. IL-1 production is generally thought to be associated with inflammation, but it has also been shown to be expressed during kidney development, thymocyte differentiation and cartilage degradation. IL-1 plays a critical role in the regulation of immune response and inflammation, acting as an activator of T and B lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells. In T cells, IL-1 stimulates the production of IL-2 and selectively inhibits IL-4 expression. IL-1 induces B cell proliferation and maturation, and immunoglobulin synthesis. NK cells require IL-1β for production of the anti- pathogen IFN-γ. IL-1 has also been implicated in several pathological conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and atherosclerosis.
