The role of interleukin-1 in allergy-related disorders.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a potent proinflammatory cytokine, which is involved in many inflammatory conditions including autoinflammatory and allergic disorders. This review provides insights into recent advances of our understanding of the pathogenesis of IL-1β-associated allergy-related disorders.

RECENT FINDINGS: In autoinflammatory as well as allergic diseases such as contact hypersensitivity, atopic dermatitis and bronchial asthma, dysfunctional inflammasome processing has been demonstrated to account for IL-1β-induced inflammation. IL-1-neutralizing drugs have been shown to completely suppress or markedly reduce inflammatory responses in clinical studies and experimental models of urticarial autoinflammatory diseases as well as common allergic disorders.

SUMMARY: The recent findings support a crucial role for IL-1β and inflammasome components in a variety of allergy-related disorders.