IL-1RA ELISA Kit, Human

BACKGROUND The IL-1 family of cytokines is produced by activated monocytes/macrophages during the acute phase of inflammatory response. The IL-1 cytokines are also produced by a variety of other cells including neutrophiles, keratinocytes, epithelial cells, fibroblasts, adrenal cortical and medullary cells.¹ The cytokine IL-1 and IL-1 have a 25% homology in amino acids. The biological action of IL-1 cytokines is the results of their binding to the IL-1 receptor type I (Rt1). A second IL-1 receptor (Rt2) does not produce any biological effect and most probably represents a “decoy receptor”. A third member of IL-1 family of cytokines is IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1 Ra), which exhibits same binding affinity to both types of IL-1 receptors, but without inducing a biological response, thus antagonizing the effects of IL-1.² Interestingly, the action of IL-1 Ra is not restricted to the counterregulation of inflammatory processes. IL-1 Ra has been shown to be upregulated in the serum of obese subjects.³

1. Carter, D. B. et al: Nature. 344:633, 1990.
2. Granowitz, E. V. et al: J. Biol. Chem. 266:14147, 1991.
3. Saltevo, J. et al: Diab Vasc Dis Res. 4:328, 2007.