Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist reduces mortality from endotoxin shock

Article Abstract:

Approximately one out of every 200 hospital patients develop bacterial infection leading to shock. Shock, a life-threatening condition, occurs when there is inadequate blood flow to the periphery of the body, due to low blood pressure. It can result in the failure of several organs in the body. The death rate of patients with shock associated with bacterial infection is high, even if antibiotics are administered. Endotoxin is the direct cause of shock in patients with Gram negative bacteria infection. However, the symptoms of shock are the result of the actions of cytokines (factors synthesized by the cells of the host) in response to the endotoxin. The cytokine interleukin-1 appears to be involved in the symptoms of shock, as it can cause low blood pressure and can make the heart contract at a faster rate (tachycardia). It has also been shown that interleukin-1 acts together with another cytokine, tumor necrosis factor, to cause damage and death of cells and tissues. Studies in rabbits indicate that an antagonist of the receptor of interleukin-1 (a molecule that reacts with the receptor that binds interleukin-1 and blocks the effects of interleukin-1) reduces the severity of endotoxin-induced shock. These studies show that interleukin-1 plays an important role in endotoxin shock. It is possible that an antagonist of the interleukin-1 receptor can be developed as a therapeutic agent to prevent shock due to the endotoxin release associated bacterial infections. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Prevention, Physiological aspects, Bacterial infections, Endotoxins, Septic shock, Shock

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Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist activity of a human interleukin-1 inhibitor

Article Abstract:

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a molecule which plays a key role in processes of injury, infection and inflammation. Because of the many functions of IL-1 in the regulation of immune response, it is to be expected that the cells which make and use IL-1 can exert tight control over it. One way in which control may be exerted is by the production of inhibitors, substances which block or reduce its activity. Three chemically distinct inhibitors have, in fact, been identified in human monocytes (a type of white blood cell). Further investigation has revealed that these three molecules actually represent the same fundamental protein structure; one has no attached sugar molecules and the other two have sugar molecules attached in different ways. Thus, the one inhibitor molecule may exist in three related forms. New evidence shows that this inhibitor works in an apparently novel fashion as an antagonist binding directly to the receptor for interleukin-1. In most known cases, a molecule which binds to a receptor will activate the receptor. It might be anticipated therefore that a molecule which binds to the IL-1 receptor should show some biological activity similar to IL-1, but in this case it does not. Thus, the IL-1 inhibitor seems to be a novel species, a protein receptor ligand that is a pure antagonist. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

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Primary structure and functional expression from complementary DNA of a human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist

Article Abstract:

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a molecule which plays a key role in processes of injury, infection and inflammation. Because of the many functions of this molecule in the regulation of immune response, it is to be expected that the cells which make and use IL-1 can exert tight control over it. One way in which control may be maintained is by the production of inhibitors or antagonists, substances which block or reduce its activity. One such inhibitor molecule has been investigated and a complementary DNA for this molecule has been isolated. Sequence analysis has shown that the inhibitor has 19 percent homology (structural similarity) with interleukin-1 alpha and 26 percent homology with interleukin-1 beta. The tools now available for studying the physiological role of IL-1 inhibition are likely to shed light on the relationship between IL-1 and the inflammatory response. The authors point out that the antagonist might, in fact, be useful as a therapeutic agent in IL-1-mediated diseases in humans, particularly in inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Rheumatoid arthritis

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