The IL-1 super-family of cytokines and receptors is highly pleiotropic and plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of several auto-inflammatory conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis.
However, in an in vitro inflammasome activity assay with PBMC, IL-1β protein secretion and the IL-1β/IL-1Ra protein ratio were similar in MS patients and HC.
Fish oil is claimed to improve outcome in multiple sclerosis (MS) through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects by reducing cytokines including TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL6, and IL-1β.
A significant association was found for the IL-1β +3953 T allele [OR=1.43, 95% CI (1.14-1.79), P value=0.002, Pc=0.01] and for IL-1β +3953 T/T genotype and MS risk [OR=1.92, 95% CI (1.25-2.96), P value=0.005, Pc=0.01].
The data suggest that the IL-1 cluster genes make no major contribution to MS, but the tentative association between IL-1RA allele 2 and susceptibility of MS in women warrants further studies.
Common variants in the IL-1 region are not associated with MS risk but our data suggest that the IL-1ra VNTR polymorphism might be associated with bout-onset MS subtype.
Consistently, we found that cathepsin Z-deficiency reduced the efficiency of antigen presenting cells to secrete IL-1β, which in turn reduced the ability of mice to generate Th17 responses-critical steps in the pathogenesis of EAE and MS.
We found that compared with placebo, probiotic supplementation down-regulated gene expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8; p < 0.001) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) mRNA (p < .001) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with MS. We did not observe any significant effect of probiotic supplementation on gene expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), or oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with MS.
Moreover, IL-1 plays a significant role in the regulation of the T-cells, and it is considered an essential cytokine for the Th cell differentiation that implicated in the MS pathogenesis.
We studied the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) gene polymorphism and the HLA-DR and DQ allele frequencies by DNA-based methods in both the primary chronic progressive form (PP MS) and the relapsing/remitting form (R/R MS).
Our findings support the existence of a causative variant for MS within this candidate region in a representative Italian Caucasian population and, in particular, the role of the IL-1 beta (-511 C/T) variant warrants further investigation.
Glatiramer acetate (GA), an immunomodulator used in multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy, induces the production of secreted IL-1 receptor antagonist (sIL-1Ra), a natural inhibitor of IL-1β, in human monocytes, and in turn enhances sIL-1Ra circulating levels in MS patients.