Clinical Significance
A polymorphism of this gene is reported to be associated with increased risk of osteoporotic fractures and gastric cancer.
Mutations in the IL1RN gene results in a rare disease called deficiency of the interleukin-1–receptor antagonist (DIRA). Variants of the IL1RN gene is also associated with risk of schizophrenia. Elevated levels of IL1RN has been found in serum of schizophrenia patients.
An interleukin 1 receptor antagonist is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease in which IL-1 plays a key role. It is commercially produced as anakinra, which is a human recombinant form of IL-1RA. In terms of protein similarities, IL-1β is more closely related to IL-1RA than it is to IL- 1α. The amino acids that are identical between mature human IL-1α and mature IL-1β is 22% while it is 26% when comparing IL-1β to IL-1RA and only 18% when comparing IL-1α to IL-1RA.
Read more about this topic: Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist
Famous quotes containing the word significance:
“Of what significance the light of day, if it is not the reflection of an inward dawn?—to what purpose is the veil of night withdrawn, if the morning reveals nothing to the soul? It is merely garish and glaring.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)