| Interleukin-1 receptor (IL1R)-associated kinases (IRAKs) are important mediators in the signal transduction of Toll-like receptor (TLR) and IL-1R family members, collectively referred to as TIRs. Binding of IL-1 to its cognate receptor results in the activation of the NFkB signaling pathway. 100 kDa IRAK-1 is implicated as an upstream mediator of NFkB activation. IRAK-2 is a proximal mediator of IL-1, a component of the IL-1R signaling complex and is required for IL-1R-induced NFkB activation. IRAK-4 is strongly expressed in kidney and is also found in lung, testis, small intestine, breast, liver, and placenta. In contrast to the other IRAKs that are expressed in most cell types, IRAK-M is restricted to monocytic cells. |
