Defining agonist peptides of human interleukin-1 beta.

The structure-function relationship in the human IL-1 beta protein has been analyzed by means of computer prediction, synthesis of peptides and use of monoclonal antibodies of predetermined specificity. A nine amino acid-long fragment (VQGEESNDK), corresponding to the human IL-1 beta sequence in position 163-171, was shown to possess only some of the IL-1 activities, i.e. those directed to the immune system, while being devoid of IL-1-like inflammatory effects. It is thus proposed that discrete domains within the IL-1 beta protein might be responsible for the different biological activities of the molecule and that the 163-171 fragment may represent one of the immunostimulatory sites of IL-1 beta.