Description
Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has been considered a potentially important inflammatory mediator. It is composed of two distinct proteins, called as IL-1alpha and IL-1beta. IL-1beta is a proinflammatory cytokine produced in a variety of cells including monocytes, tissue macrophages, keratinocytes and other epithelial cells. Both IL-1alpha and IL1beta bind to the same receptor and they are structurally related polypeptides that share approximately 20% amino acid.