IL-1R3 blockade broadly attenuates the functions of six members of the IL-1 family, revealing their contribution to models of disease

Interleukin (IL)-1R3 is the co-receptor in three signaling pathways that involve six cytokines of the IL-1 family (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-33, IL-36α, IL-36β and IL-36γ). In many diseases, multiple cytokines contribute to disease pathogenesis. For example, in asthma, both IL-33 and IL-1 are of major importance, as are IL-36 and IL-1 in psoriasis. We developed a blocking monoclonal antibody (mAb) to human IL-1R3 (MAB-hR3) and demonstrate here that this antibody specifically inhibits signaling via IL-1, IL-33 and IL-36 in vitro. Also, in three distinct in vivo models of disease (crystal-induced peritonitis, allergic airway inflammation and psoriasis), we found that targeting IL-1R3 with a single mAb to mouse IL-1R3 (MAB-mR3) significantly attenuated heterogeneous cytokine-driven inflammation and disease severity. We conclude that in diseases driven by multiple cytokines, a single antagonistic agent such as a mAb to IL-1R3 is a therapeutic option with considerable translational benefit. Multiple cytokines in the proinflammatory IL-1 family share the co-receptor IL-1R3. Dinarello and colleagues show that a fully humanized antibody to IL-1R3 can effectively control inflammation and disease mediated not only by IL-1 but also by IL-33 and IL-36.