IL-1α is a protein that helps the body fight infection. It also causes inflammation and fever. Some people are working on medicines that will stop IL-1α from causing these problems.

IL-1α is produced mainly by activated macrophages, as well as neutrophils, epithelial cells, and endothelial cells. IL-1α helps to activate other cells that fight infection. IL-1α is important because it helps to regulate the immune response and binds to receptors to activate tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

IL-1α interacts with other proteins, including HAX1 and NDN.

There are many interactions between IL-1α and other cytokines, but the most important one is when they work together to create a fever and inflammation. IL-1α and TNF work together to do this in most cases, except for a few examples such as radioprotection, the Shwartzman reaction, PGE2 synthesis, sickness behavior, nitric oxide production, nerve growth factor synthesis, insulin resistance, loss of mean body mass, and IL-6 production.