Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a 17-kDa pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesized from a variety of cell types primarily in association with disease states or during host perturbation such as immune responses. At pM or even fM concentrations, IL-1 triggers various responses in nearly all cells. It appears that there is little or no major role for IL-1 in homoeostatic mechanisms. There are two IL-1's (alpha and beta) each with its distinct sequence; there are two IL-1 receptors. Disease states such as local and systemic infection, septic shock, degenerative arthritis and autoimmune diseases such as nephritis, vasculitis and inflammatory bowel disease appear to be mediated, in part, by IL-1. Organ failure, capillary leak and death occur in animals after a combination of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and IL-1 which is more effective in inducing these changes than either cytokine alone. IL-1 is also a potent inducer of endothelial cell adhesion molecules, IL-6, and IL-8, a neutrophil chemotactic and activating factor. Strategies for reducing the effects of IL-1 have been based on suppression of transcription, translation, or secretion; more recently, receptor blockade has been a new approach. A naturally occurring IL-1-specific receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), which shares 40% conserved amino-acid homology with IL-1 beta, binds to IL-1 surface receptors with the same affinity as IL-1 but does not possess agonist activity and acts as a competitive inhibitor of IL-1. Studies using the IL-1ra to block endogenous IL-1 in a variety of animal disease models suggest that IL-1 plays a key role in triggering the cascade of inflammatory responses. In addition, the IL-1ra reduces the spontaneous production of growth factors and proliferation of leukaemic cells. The IL-1ra may be an advantageous therapy in patients with sepsis, diabetes, inflammatory bowel, arthritis and cancer.