Therapeutic strategies targeting interleukin-1 in vascular inflammation

IL-1 has been strongly implicated in the progression and sequelae of vascular inflammation, which is regarded as the pathological basis for ischemic heart disease. IL-1 receptors are considered intractable by medicinal chemists and several biologicals have been pursued in an attempt to moderate IL-1 activity. Tractable targets, associated with IL-1 processing and IL-1-mediated signal transduction, which culminate in the regulation of IL-1 activity or downstream responses have also been pursued.

Section editor:Martin Braddock – AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood, Loughborough, UK