Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • News & Views
  • Published:

Genetics

Mutations in the IL1RN locus lead to autoinflammation

The results of two new studies suggest mutations in the gene encoding the interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) are responsible for a spectrum of childhood inflammatory disorders characterized by an imbalance in IL-1 expression. What implications do these intriguing results have for the diagnosis and management of IL1-driven inflammatory disorders?

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Competitive inhibition of the activities of IL-1 by IL-1Ra.

References

  1. Aksentijevich, I. et al. An autoinflammatory disease with deficiency of the interleukin-1-receptor antagonist. N. Engl. J. Med. 360, 2426–2437 (2009).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Reddy, S. et al. An autoinflammatory disease due to homozygous deletion of the IL1RN locus. N. Engl. J. Med. 360, 2438–2444 (2009).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Horai, R. et al. Development of chronic inflammatory arthropathy resembling rheumatoid arthritis in interleukin 1 receptor antagonist-deficient mice. J. Exp. Med. 191, 313–320 (2000).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Nicklin, M. J., Hughes, D. E., Barton, J. L., Ure, J. M. & Duff, G. W. Arterial inflammation in mice lacking the interleukin 1 receptor antagonist gene. J. Exp. Med. 191, 303–312 (2000).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Palmer, G., Talabot-Ayer, D., Kaya, G. & Gabay, C. Type I IL-1 receptor mediates IL-1 and intracellular IL-1 receptor antagonist effects in skin inflammation. J. Invest. Dermatol. 127, 1938–1946 (2007).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Abdollahi-Roodsaz, S. et al. Stimulation of TLR2 and TLR4 differentially skews the balance of T cells in a mouse model of arthritis. J. Clin. Invest. 118, 205–216 (2008).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Lamacchia, C., Palmer, G., Seemayer, C. A., Talabot-Ayer, D. & Gabay, C. Myeloid-cell specific interleukin-1 receptor antagonist deficiency enhances TH1 and TH17 responses and the severity of arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. (in press).

  8. Martinon, F. & Tschopp, J. Inflammatory caspases: linking an intracellular innate immune system to autoinflammatory diseases. Cell 117, 561–574 (2004).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hawkins P. N., Lachmann, H. J. & McDermott, M. F. Interleukin-1-receptor antagonist in the Muckle–Well syndrome. N. Engl. J. Med. 348, 2583–2584 (2003).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Lachmann, H. J. et al. Use of canakinumab in the cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome. N. Engl. J. Med. 360, 2416–2425 (2009).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gaby Palmer.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gabay, C., Palmer, G. Mutations in the IL1RN locus lead to autoinflammation. Nat Rev Rheumatol 5, 480–482 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrrheum.2009.177

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrrheum.2009.177

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing