These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Generation of biologically active IL-1 beta by matrix metalloproteinases: a novel caspase-1-independent pathway of IL-1 beta processing.
    Author: Schönbeck U, Mach F, Libby P.
    Journal: J Immunol; 1998 Oct 01; 161(7):3340-6. PubMed ID: 9759850.
    Abstract:
    Biologic activity of IL-1 beta requires processing of the inactive precursor, a function generally ascribed to IL-1 beta-converting enzyme (caspase-1). However, alternative mechanisms of IL-1 beta activation have been postulated in local inflammatory reactions. Expression of IL-1 beta and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) frequently occurs simultaneously at sites of inflammation. We describe here that stromelysin-1 (MMP-3), as well as the gelatinases A (MMP-2) and B (MMP-9), processes recombinant human IL-1 beta precursor (pIL-1 beta) into biologically active forms. Detection of both pIL-1 beta processing and biologic IL-1 beta activity demonstrated different processing capacities of the respective MMPs. Conversion of pIL-1 beta by stromelysin-1 required coincubation for at least 1 h, and biologic activity faded after 8 h to 24 h. Gelatinase A was less effective in processing pIL-1 beta, requiring at least 24 h of coincubation. In contrast, gelatinase B processed pIL-1 beta within minutes, resulting in immunoreactive products as well as biologic activity stable for 72 h. In addition, prolonged incubation of mature IL-1 beta with stromelysin-1, and to a lesser extent also with gelatinases, but not with interstitial collagenase, resulted in the degradation of mature IL-1 beta. None of the MMPs processed the second isoform of IL-1, IL-1 alpha. The present study indicates a biphasic regulation of IL-1 beta activity by MMPs: a caspase-1-independent pathway of IL-1 beta activation and inhibition of IL-1 beta activity by degrading the mature cytokine. The balance of the respective MMPs and pIL-1 beta might regulate the long term appearance of IL-1 beta activity at sites of acute or chronic inflammation.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]