From the Research
Elevated Levels of IL-1β and IL-18
- Elevated levels of Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and Interleukin-18 (IL-18) have been associated with various inflammatory and neurodegenerative conditions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Studies have shown that IL-1β and IL-18 play a crucial role in mediating neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system (CNS) 2, 5
Contribution to Peripheral Neuropathy
- Research suggests that IL-1β can contribute to the development or exacerbation of peripheral neuropathy, particularly in the context of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) 3, 4
- The preventive effect of IL-1β antagonist on DPN has been demonstrated in animal models, highlighting the potential role of IL-1β in the pathogenesis of peripheral neuropathy 4
- Additionally, IL-18 has been shown to induce expression and release of cytokines from murine glial cells, interacting with IL-1β to contribute to inflammatory responses in the brain 5
Mechanisms of Action
- IL-1β has been found to exert actions on sensory neurons at attomolar concentrations, leading to increased excitability and decreased function of putative KCa1.1 channels 3
- The interaction between IL-18 and IL-1β has been demonstrated to contribute to inflammatory responses in the brain, with IL-18 priming microglia for IL-1β release 5