Description

Elisa kit for the detection of Interleukin-1β in human serum

Human interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a key mediator of the host response to various infectious, inflammatory and immunologic challenges. Two distinct polypeptides, IL-1α and IL-1ß, mediate IL-1 biological activities and bind to the same cell surface receptor. Both are initially synthesized as 31-kDA intracellular precursors that are subsequently found as mature proteins of 17 kDA in monocyte supernates. Membrane-bound IL-1 has also been described and may account for a part of IL-1 mediated local effects. The primary sources of IL-1 are blood monocytes and tissue macrophages. Other specialized cells such as T- and B-lymphocytes, various epithelial, endothelial and some mesenchymal cells can also produce IL-1. IL-1ß is the major form secreted by monocytes and macrophages which are believed to be the main source of circulating (plasma) IL-1. Inhibitions of IL-1 activity have been described in plasma and other biological fluids. IL-1 affects several unrelated tissues and is a main mediator of the "acute phase" inflammatory responses characterised by alterations in metabolic, endocrinologic and immunologic functions. This cytokine has an essential role in Tcell activation, providing one of the necessary signals for IL-2 (T-cell growth factor) production. It is the main mediator of inflammatory processes by acting on the nervous system (fever, sleep, anorexia), on bone marrow-derived cells (chemotaxis and/or activation of neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes) and on various tissues (fibroblast proliferation, resorption of cartilage and bone matrices, glial cell proliferation, stimulation of endothelial cell procoagulant activity, etc.). Most of these activities are directly attributable to IL-1ß, but others are mediated in collaboration with other cytokines such as IL-6, interferons, and tumor necrosis factor. IL-1 stimulates the production or acts synergistically with these cytokines and the final biological activity is thus the result of a network of interactions between these various mediators.