Human recombinant interleukin-1 receptor antagonist blocks bone resorption induced by interleukin-1β but not interleukin-1α

Both interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) are powerful stimulators of bone resorption in vivo and in vitro. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) binds to many interleukin-1 receptors. It does not activate the receptor and effectively blocks the action of IL-1α and IL-1β. In this study, human recombinant IL-1ra, at 100-fold excess, was found to block bone resorption in cultured mouse calvaria due to IL-1β but not IL-1α. These observations may be explained by differential affinities of receptors for IL-1α, IL-1β and rhIL-1ra on target bone cells.