Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist and neurodegenerative diseases: the future treatment strategy

Neurodegenerative disorders encompass a range of conditions affecting the central nervous system (CNS) in which alterations in the neuronal structure and cellular dysfunction lead to progressive deterioration. Activation of microglia and expression of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) in the CNS have become almost synonymous with neuroinflammation. Additionally, the relentless activation of the IL-1 signalling pathway has been linked with the pathogenesis of various CNS disease states, ranging from Alzheimer disease (AD), Parkinson disease (PD) to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Moreover, a growing body of evidence has inferred that impeding the IL-1 signalling either pharmacologically or genetically in various CNS disease models could reduce neuroinflammation or delay disease progression. This review will therefore aim to study the role of IL-1 in neurodegenerative diseases and highlight the key aspects that warrant IL-1Ra as a promising target for developing a novel treatment for various CNS conditions.