Interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) is a non-secreted proinflammatory cytokine produced mainly by activated macrophages, as well as neutrophils, epithelial cells, and endothelial cells. It possesses metabolic, physiological, haematopoietic activities, and plays one of the central roles in the regulation of the immune responses. Both IL-1α and IL-1β binds to the same receptor and has similar if not identical biological properties. These cytokines have a broad range of activities including, stimulation of thymocyte proliferation, by inducing IL-2 release, B-cell maturation and proliferation, mitogenic FGF-like activity and the ability to stimulate the release of prostaglandin and collagenase from synovial cells. The mature Rhesus macaque IL1β shares 96% amino acid sequence identity with rhesus and 67% -78% with canine, mouse and rat IL1β.
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