{"symbol":"IL1B","synonyms":["IL1-BETA","IL-1","IL1F2"],"name":"interleukin 1, beta","description":"The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the interleukin 1 cytokine family. This cytokine is produced by activated macrophages as a proprotein, which is proteolytically processed to its active form by caspase 1 (CASP1/ICE). This cytokine is an important mediator of the inflammatory response, and is involved in a variety of cellular activities, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (PTGS2/COX2) by this cytokine in the central nervous system (CNS) is found to contribute to inflammatory pain hypersensitivity. Similarly, IL-1B has been implicated in human osteoarthritis pathogenesis. Patients with severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) present elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1B in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid samples. The lung damage induced by the Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is to a large extent, a result of the inflammatory response promoted by cytokines such as IL-1B. This gene and eight other interleukin 1 family genes form a cytokine gene cluster on chromosome 2. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2020]","ncbiEntrezGeneId":3553,"ncbiEntrezGeneUrl":"http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/3553","proteins":[{"symbol":"IL1B_HUMAN","href":"/api/1.0/protein/IL1B_HUMAN"}],"hgncRootFamilies":[{"name":"Interleukins (IL)","href":"/api/1.0/gene_family/Interleukins+%28IL%29"},{"name":"Endogenous ligands","href":"/api/1.0/gene_family/Endogenous+ligands"}]}