DNA damage talks to inflammation

Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 α) and Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) are classical cytokines that are mostly known for their extracellular activity following their binding the IL-1 receptor (IL-1R), and for their biological role as pro-inflammatory agents. Despite the fact that both proteins have been intensively studied, the funda mental differences between the two molecules and their effects on non-conventional inflammatory processes, aside from their role in acute inflammation, are often disregarded. For instance, the two IL-1 proteins (solely or synergistically) were shown to play distinct roles in numerous physiological p rocesses not typically associated with inflammation, including pregnancy maintenance [1], spontaneous abortions [2], headaches, migraines [3] and depression [4], appetite control [5,6], insulin secretion [7], insulin-derived growth factor/growth hormone (IGF/GH) physiology [8,9], and even tissue rep air and wound healing [10,11].
Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews - Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Tags: Mini review Source Type: research