IL-1β
Central pro-inflammatory cytokine driving systemic inflammation
- Expression
- Elevated
- Evidence level
- established
- Targeted by
- Anakinra, Canakinumab
Role in pathogenesis
IL-1β is a key effector cytokine in AOSD, produced by NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated caspase-1 cleavage of pro-IL-1β. Drives fever, arthritis, rash, and acute-phase response. The dramatic efficacy of IL-1 blockade (anakinra, canakinumab) confirms its central pathogenic role. Both anakinra and canakinumab have received EMA approval for AOSD based on IL-1β's established role.
Targeting drugs (2)
| Drug | Mechanism | Response | Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anakinra | IL-1 receptor antagonist | ~80-90% | 2nd |
| Canakinumab | Anti-IL-1beta monoclonal antibody | ~67% | 2nd |