11 IL-1 family members in inflammatory skin disease.

The cytokines IL-1alpha and IL-1beta have long been known to play a profound role in inflammation, and in the past decade another cytokine, IL-18 (originally known as IGIF), has also been realized to be an IL-1 family member and to possess significant inflammatory activity. Half a dozen additional members of the IL-1 family have been identified in recent years, and given their relatedness to IL-I and IL-18, it is tempting to speculate that they too might possess inflammatory potential. We have demonstrated that certain of these cytokines can activate MAP kinases and the pathway leading to NFkappaB, via known IL-1R family members. Moreover, when overexpressed in skin, they are capable of causing an inflammatory skin condition resembling that seen in human disease.