Interleukin-1β and Cancer

Within a tumor, IL-1 beta is produced and secreted by various cell types, such as immune cells, fibroblasts, or cancer cells. The IL1B gene is induced after priming of the cells and a second signal is required to allow IL-1 beta maturation by inflammasome-activated caspase-1. IL-1 beta is then released and leads to transcription of target genes through its ligation with IL-1R1 on target cells. IL-1 beta expression and maturation are guided by gene polymorphisms and by the cellular context. In cancer, IL-1 beta has pleiotropic effects on immune cells, angiogenesis, cancer cell proliferation, migration, and metastasis. Moreover, anti-cancer treatments are able to promote IL-1 beta production by cancer or immune cells, with opposite effects on cancer progression. This raises the question of whether or not to use IL-1 beta inhibitors in cancer treatment.