Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β)

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine produced primarily by activated monocytes and macrophages, although it can be released by various immune and non-immune cells in response to inflammatory stimuli. It is synthesized as an inactive precursor (pro-IL-1β) and requires proteolytic processing by caspase-1, typically upon inflammasome activation, to generate the mature, biologically active form. IL-1β mediates acute and chronic inflammatory responses by inducing prostaglandin synthesis, stimulating neutrophil activation, promoting fever, angiogenesis, and amplifying the immune response through upregulation of other cytokines and recruitment of immune effectors. Dysregulation of IL-1β signaling is implicated in numerous pathologies, including autoinflammatory diseases, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular diseases, infection, and cancer, making IL-1β a key therapeutic target. Several drugs, such as anakinra, canakinumab, and rilonacept, have been developed to inhibit its action by various mechanisms, most commonly by blocking the IL-1 receptor or neutralizing the cytokine itself. Elevated levels of IL-1β can serve as a biomarker for active inflammation or disease activity, but therapeutic inhibition must be balanced against the risk of impairing host defenses against infection and potentially disturbing tissue healing.

Other names

leukocytic pyrogenleukocytic endogenous mediatormononuclear cell factorlymphocyte activating factorIL1B

Inhibition of IL-1 receptor binding, neutralization of IL-1β activity, blockade of inflammasome activation