Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) is a pro inflammatory cytokine, which is secreted by immune cells to trigger inflammation and this has been found profoundly in the lesions caused by Leishmania pathogens. IL-1 is a name that designates two pleiotropic cytokines, IL-1 alpha (IL-1F1) and IL-1 beta (IL-1F2), which are the products of distinct genes. IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta are structurally related polypeptides that share approximately 21% amino acid (aa) identity in human. Both IL-1α and IL-1β binds to the same receptor and has similar but not identical biological properties; The mature human IL1β shares 96% amino acid sequence identity with rhesus and 67% -78% with canine, mouse and rat IL-1β.IL-1β, are known to modulate effects of neurotoxic neurotransmitters discharged during excitation or inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS).

Interleukin-1 alpha (IL1a) is also known as IL-1A, IL1,and is a cytokine of the interleukin-1 family. Among various species, the amino acid sequence of mature IL-1 alpha is conserved 60% to 70% and human IL-1 has been found to be biologically active on murine cell lines. It possesses metabolic, physiological, haematopoietic activities, and plays one of the central roles in the regulation of the immune responses. IL-1 is a major immunoregulatory/proinflammatory cytokine which also affects fibroblast proliferation and function and therefore it was of interest to investigate whether its constitutive expression influences the in vivo tumorigenic potential of transformed fibroblastoid cell lines.