Chronic inflammatory joint diseases: natural inhibitors of interleukin 1 and tumor necrosis factor alpha.

Cytokines play a major role in the initiation of the immune response or acute inflammatory events, and in the transition to or persistence of chronic inflammation, which eventually lead to tissue destruction and/or fibrosis. Cytokine inhibitors, peptides, have been recently isolated from normal or pathological biological fluids and cell culture supernatants. They can impede either acute inflammation or the transition to chronic inflammation. Two well defined molecules have been identified, interleukin 1 inhibitor, and tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitor. They may be part of an attempt to control the expansion of the inflammation. The balance between cytokines and their inhibitors is of importance in the control of inflammatory diseases, and the lack of natural cytokine inhibitors may play a major part in maintaining inflammatory conditions.