IL-1 receptor type I expression in breast cancer

The cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 is known to be involved in angiogenesis and metastasis. A prerequisite for IL-1 signalling is the presence of its rece ptor. Previously we have shown that glioblastoma cells express the IL-1 rec eptor type I (IL-1RI). In this study we analysed I I breast tumour specimen s for IL-1RI expression using the reverse transcriptase (RT) polymerase cha in reaction (PCR). We found all the I I breast tumours were positive for IL -1RI. This suggests that paracrine or autocrine produced IL-1 mediated sign alling via IL-IRI might take place in breast tumours to control the product ion of pro-tumourigenic factors such as angiogenic factors and support furt her progression of tumour growth and metastasis. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishe rs Ltd.