ABSTRACT
The interaction of Interleukin-1 (IL-1) with specific cellular receptors represents an attractive therapeutic target. This chapter addresses the structural basis for IL-1 activity and various experimental approaches for IL-1-based drug design and therapeutic intervention. The monocyte-macrophage lineage is generally considered to be the major source of IL-1 in inflammatory lesions, although all mammalian cells, with the exception of erythrocytes, are capable of synthesizing IL-1. There are many diseases in which IL-1 has been implicated as a possible mediator of disease pathology. The relationship between internalization of IL-1 and signal transduction events remains obscure. Experimental efforts to identify those parts of the IL-1 molecules critical for function were initiated as soon as the molecular nature of these agents was established. Speculations on the nature of differences and similarities between structures of IL-1ß, IL-1a, and the receptor antagonist protein followed closely on reports of the primary structure of IL-1 Receptor Ant Agonist Protein.
