Journal Article Epublish
PubMed: 40427750 DOI: 10.3390/biology14050561
IL-1 Superfamily Across 400+ Species: Therapeutic Targets and Disease Implications.
Biology (Basel) 14(5)
Authors: Weibin Wang, Dawei Li, Kaiyong Luo, Baozheng Chen, Tingting Hao, Xuzhen Li, Dazhong Guo, Yang Dong, Ya Ning
Affiliations
- College of Science, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China. Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biological Big Data, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China.
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biological Big Data, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China.
Abstract
An important area of interest for therapeutic development is the IL-1 superfamily, a critical group of immune regulators with profound implications in a variety of disorders. This study clarifies the evolutionary patterns of IL-1 family members by thoroughly analyzing more than 400 animal species, demonstrating their ancient roots that extend back to the earliest vertebrates. Important results show that, although IL-1 ligands expanded significantly over the evolution of mammals, their corresponding receptors remained remarkably structurally conserved. Identifying both lineage-specific adaptations and evolutionarily conserved residues provides vital information for treatment design. These findings point to the possibility of two different therapeutic strategies: addressing species-specific variants may allow for more targeted interventions, whereas focusing on conserved motifs may result in broad-acting treatments. The study also identified less well-known species as useful models for comprehending early immune systems. In addition to advancing our knowledge of the function of the IL-1 family in autoimmune, inflammatory, and carcinogenic illnesses, this research lays the groundwork for the development of more potent targeted therapeutics by creating an evolutionary framework for the IL-1 family.
MeSH
Interleukin-1, Therapeutics