IL-1 is one of the most important immune modifying interleukins.
The predominant function of IL-1 is to enhance the activation of
T lymphocytes in response to antigen. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a
cytokine that is secreted by macrophages, monocytes and
dendritic cells. It is an important part of the inflammatory
response of the body against infection. It increases the
expression of adhesion factors on endothelial cells to enable
transmigration of leukocytes, the cells that fight pathogens, to
sites of infection. It also re-sets the hypothalamus
thermoregulatory center, leading to an increased body
temperature which expresses itself as fever. It is therefore
called an endogenous pyrogen. The increased body temperature
helps the body's immune system to fight infection. There are a
few molecules of the IL-1 family. The two most studied molecular
forms of interleukin-1, are: For the most part, these two forms
of IL-1 bind to the same cellular receptor. This receptor is
composed of two related, but non-identical, sub