THE TYPE-II DECOY RECEPTOR - A NOVEL REGULATORY PATHWAY FOR INTERLEUKIN-1

The interleukin 1 (IL-1) system plays a central role in inflammation a nd immunity. Of the two receptors that bind IL-1, the type I receptor is known to mediate signaling activity: whereas the function of the ty pe II receptor remains unknown. Here, Francesco Colotta and colleagues review the properties of these receptors and summarize evidence indic ating that the type II receptor acts as a regulated decoy target for I L-1.