Interleukin-1 alpha (IL1 alpha or IL1alpha) is a member of the interleukin-1 cytokine family, found constitutively present in epithelial layers of the entire gastrointestinal tract, lung, liver, kidney, endothelial cells, and astrocytes. The synthesized IL-1 alpha is a 31 kDa inactive precursor and can be cleaved by intracellular caspase-1 or extracellular proteases to generate the bioactive 17 kDa form and the 16 kDa N-terminal cleavage product. Both precursor and mature IL-1 alpha protein bind to the IL-1 receptor (IL-1R), initiating a cascade of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines production such as IL-6, IL-8, and TNF, in response to viral and bacterial pathogens conditions. IL-1 alpha plays a central role in immune-surveillance mechanisms, stimulating macrophages, neutrophils, and CD8+ T cells activity.
