Imbalance production between interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) in bronchial asthma

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2000 Sep 24;276(2):607-12. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.2000.3516.

Abstract

Genes of the IL-1 family encode three different peptides, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-1Ra, respectively. IL-1 operates through IL-1RI, and is involved in airway inflammation in asthmatic subjects, whereas IL-1Ra appears to be a specific competitive inhibitor of IL-1. All genes are on chromosome 2q12-21 where genomewide searches have identified linkage for asthma. To test whether variants of IL-1 relate to asthma, we conducted a genetic association study in a Japanese population. We show that the A2 allele of IL1RN (encoding IL-1Ra) associates with nonatopic asthma [OR = 5.71, 95% CI: 1.63-19. 8, Pc = 0.007]. Both atopic and nonatopic asthmatics with the A2 allele had significantly lower serum IL-1Ra levels in both types of asthmatics. Peripheral blood cells from asthmatics with A2 alleles, however, produced as much IL-1 as did those with A1 homozygotes. Since Th1 and Th2 cytokines differentially regulate the ratio between IL-1beta and IL-1Ra, these findings suggest that dysregulation of IL-1beta/IL-1Ra, probably due to interaction between epithelium and immuno-competent cells in the airway, is important in asthma inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Asthma / blood
  • Asthma / genetics
  • Asthma / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Genetic Testing
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1 / blood
  • Interleukin-1 / genetics
  • Interleukin-1 / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Phenotype
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1 / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Interleukin-1
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1