RESUMEN
The in-vivo effects of systemic administration of recombinant human interleukin 1 beta (rIL-1 beta) were studied in the mouse contact-sensitivity model. rIL-1 beta in a single dose of 20 micrograms injected intraperitoneally 72-48 h before or 2-24 h after sensitization suppressed contact sensitivity. Given before challenge rIL-1 beta modulated the response in a biphasic way with an enhancement at 48 h and a suppression at 2 h before challenge. Only microgram doses of rIL-1 beta could enhance the contact sensitivity at 48 h, while microgram doses of rIL-1 beta at 2 h before challenge suppressed and nanogram doses enhanced the response. Treatment with indomethacin could only abrogate the effects of nanogram doses of rIL-1 beta. Measurements of the thickness of unchallenged control ears revealed that rIL-1 beta by itself could cause a small but significant increase in thickness depending on the dose and the time of administration.
