Interleukin-1: from discovery to therapeutic targeting of the first cytokine

Abstract

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) was the first cytokine to be discovered and remains one of the most instructive molecules in immunology, linking fundamental mechanisms of innate immune activation to human inflammatory disease and targeted therapy. While it was initially identified for its relationship to fever in the 1970s, pathologic effects of IL-1 became a cornerstone for our understanding of rare monogenic disorders of autoinflammation in the early 2000s. Since that time, the number of disorders implicating a role for IL-1 has expanded to more complex inborn errors of immunity, as well as more common polygenic disorders diagnosed and treated by the practicing allergologist, including asthma, allergic rhinitis and neutrophilic and atopic dermatoses. In this review, we highlight the historical discovery of IL-1, its involvement in various pathologies, and its role as a therapeutic target, with focus on its role in disorders pertinent to the clinical allergist/immunologist.