The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the interleukin 1 cytokine family. This cytokine is produced by activated macrophages as a proprotein, which is proteolytically processed to its active form by caspase 1 (CASP1/ICE). This cytokine is an important mediator of the inflammatory response, and is involved in a variety of cellular activities, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (PTGS2/COX2) by this cytokine in the central nervous system (CNS) is found to contribute to inflammatory pain hypersensitivity. This gene and eight other interleukin 1 family genes form a cytokine gene cluster on chromosome 2. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

IL1B: Produced by activated macrophages, IL-1 stimulates thymocyte proliferation by inducing IL-2 release, B-cell maturation and proliferation, and fibroblast growth factor activity. IL-1 proteins are involved in the inflammatory response, being identified as endogenous pyrogens, and are reported to stimulate the release of prostaglandin and collagenase from synovial cells. Monomer. Belongs to the IL-1 family.

Protein type: Cytokine

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 2q14

Cellular Component: extracellular space; extracellular region; cytosol; secretory granule

Molecular Function: protein domain specific binding; interleukin-1 receptor binding; cytokine activity

Biological Process: positive regulation of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor production; negative regulation of MAP kinase activity; positive regulation of nitric oxide biosynthetic process; activation of MAPK activity; positive regulation of transcription, DNA-dependent; positive regulation of interleukin-2 biosynthetic process; germ cell programmed cell death; negative regulation of insulin receptor signaling pathway; positive regulation of NF-kappaB import into nucleus; positive regulation of lipid catabolic process; fever; positive regulation of membrane protein ectodomain proteolysis; response to carbohydrate stimulus; activation of NF-kappaB transcription factor; cell-cell signaling; positive regulation of phagocytosis; positive regulation of T cell mediated immunity; positive regulation of T cell proliferation; neutrophil chemotaxis; positive regulation of I-kappaB kinase/NF-kappaB cascade; positive regulation of heterotypic cell-cell adhesion; positive regulation of mitosis; smooth muscle adaptation; positive regulation of interleukin-6 production; interleukin-1 beta production; positive regulation of angiogenesis; positive regulation of transcription factor activity; positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter; negative regulation of lipid metabolic process; sequestering of triacylglycerol; positive regulation of histone phosphorylation; apoptosis; positive regulation of interleukin-6 biosynthetic process; positive regulation of JNK cascade; signal transduction; positive regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signaling pathway; positive regulation of protein export from nucleus; positive regulation of interleukin-8 production; negative regulation of cell proliferation; negative regulation of lipid catabolic process; hyaluronan biosynthetic process; protein kinase B signaling cascade; lipopolysaccharide-mediated signaling pathway; inflammatory response; regulation of I-kappaB kinase/NF-kappaB cascade; cytokine and chemokine mediated signaling pathway; MAPKKK cascade; response to ATP; positive regulation of interferon-gamma production; positive regulation of chemokine biosynthetic process; positive regulation of prostaglandin secretion; positive regulation of fever; immune response; positive regulation of histone acetylation; positive regulation of protein amino acid phosphorylation; regulation of insulin secretion; embryo implantation

Disease: Gastric Cancer, Hereditary Diffuse