Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist (IL1RN) Human Active Protein

The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the interleukin 1 cytokine family. This protein inhibits the activities of interleukin 1, alpha (IL1A) and interleukin 1, beta (IL1B), and modulates a variety of interleukin 1 related immune and inflammatory responses. This gene and five other closely related cytokine genes form a gene cluster spanning approximately 400 kb on chromosome 2. A polymorphism of this gene is reported to be associated with increased risk of osteoporotic fractures and gastric cancer. Four alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been reported. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

IL1RN: Inhibits the activity of interleukin-1 by binding to receptor IL1R1 and preventing its association with the coreceptor IL1RAP for signaling. Has no interleukin-1 like activity. Binds functional interleukin-1 receptor IL1R1 with greater affinity than decoy receptor IL1R2; however, the physiological relevance of the latter association is unsure. The intracellular form of IL1RN is predominantly expressed in epithelial cells. 4 isoforms of the human protein are produced by alternative splicing.

Protein type: Cytokine; Secreted; Secreted, signal peptide; Vesicle

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 2q14.2

Cellular Component: extracellular space; cytoplasm; plasma membrane; intracellular

Molecular Function: interleukin-1 Type I receptor antagonist activity; interleukin-1 receptor binding; interleukin-1 Type II receptor antagonist activity; interleukin-1, Type II receptor binding; cytokine activity; interleukin-1, Type I receptor binding; interleukin-1 receptor antagonist activity

Biological Process: response to drug; positive regulation of JNK activity; negative regulation of heterotypic cell-cell adhesion; negative regulation of glutamate secretion; response to glucocorticoid stimulus; carboxylic acid metabolic process; response to lipopolysaccharide; female pregnancy; fever; sensory perception of pain; chronic inflammatory response to antigenic stimulus; memory; response to starvation; insulin secretion; acute-phase response; immune response; negative regulation of cytokine and chemokine mediated signaling pathway; lipid metabolic process; response to activity; negative regulation of membrane potential; negative regulation of cell migration; negative regulation of apoptosis

Disease: Microvascular Complications Of Diabetes, Susceptibility To, 4; Gastric Cancer, Hereditary Diffuse; Osteomyelitis, Sterile Multifocal, With Periostitis And Pustulosis