35Analysis of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Interleukin-1B Gene Using 5 Nuclease Assays

Interleukins are soluble peptide molecules that mediate the interaction between immunocompetent and haematopoietic cells and between the immune and neuroendocrine systems (1 ). They are produced by a variety of activated cells and exert their biological activities by binding to specific receptors on target cells. Interleukin-1β is the archetypal pleiotropic cytokine being produced by many cells and exerting its biological effects on almost all cell types (2 ). Interleukin-1β is a very potent proinflammatory cytokine and is involved in the host’s response to many antigenic challenges.