Clinical Information

The Interleukins belong to the family termed cytokines. They are peptides used by immune and inflammatory cells to communicate and control cell operations. The cytokines have some similar actions to the Growth Factors but Growth Factors regulate proliferation of non-immune cells. Interleukin 1b is a 17,500 molecular weight peptide derived primarily from macrophages, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and B cells. The major target cells are T and B cells, Fibroblasts, and Hepatocytes and it has pyrogenic activity. Interleukin 1b shares a receptor with Interleukin 1a although they are significantly different structurally. Interleukin 1b promotes antigen specific immune responses, inflammation, secretion, Colony Stimulating Factors, proteoglycanase, collagenase, and gelatinase activity, acute phase response, and cartilage resorption. Interleukin 1b increases accumulation of cell-associated and extracellular arachidonic acid, and induces release of Interleukin 6.