FIND ARTICLE

Volume: 
Issue: 
1
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Interleukin 1 (IL-1) is one of the major proinflammatory cytokines responsible for the regulation of immune and inflammatory response. In this paper we present up-to date information concerning the mechanisms of intracellular signal transduction induced by this cytokine. Interleukin 1 effects on target cells are mediated via membrane receptors. One of them (type I) is responsible for interleukin 1 intracellular signaling, whereas the other (type II) is a natural regulator of the cytokine activity. Interleukin 1 receptors belong to a large superfamily of proteins showing similarities either in intra- or extracellular domains. A group of highly conserved Toll proteins has been distinguished within this superfamily; these proteins play important roles in immune systems of various organisms, from plants to a man. Interaction of interleukin 1 with its type I receptor leads to the association of adaptor proteins with the receptor, and in turn to the formation of receptor complex which initiates signaling pathways. One of the major pathways of intracellular signal transduction of interleukin 1 leads to mobilization of the transcription factor NF-kB. NF-kB is necessary for transcription initiation of almost all genes, which products participate in inflammatory response. Activation of other transcription factors by interleukin 1 is often mediated by protein kinases of MAP kinase family. In spite of recent achievements in clarifying the IL-1 signaling mechanisms, still there is a need for intense research on interactions between distinct signaling pathways and their significance for different activities of interleukin 1.

The Editorial Board
Andrzej Łukaszyk - przewodniczący, Zofia Bielańska-Osuchowska, Szczepan Biliński, Mieczysław Chorąży, Aleksander Koj, Włodzimierz Korochoda, Leszek Kuźnicki, Aleksandra Stojałowska, Lech Wojtczak

Editorial address:
Katedra i Zakład Histologii i Embriologii Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Poznaniu, ul. Święcickiego 6, 60-781 Poznań, tel. +48 61 8546453, fax. +48 61 8546440, email: mnowicki@ump.edu.pl

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