The Role of Interleukin-1 in Mediating Host Defense Mechanisms

Abstract

Throughout the animal kingdom, one observes the elaborate measures and strategies which various species have developed in order to fight life-threatening microbial invasion. Clearly, before the antibiotic era, the outcome of this struggle between host and microbe was determined by the ability of each to develop evasion action. Mammals, in particular, have developed a large number of varied responses wich both signal the onset of microbial invasion and trigger host defense mechanisms. Some of the defenses include behavioral changes. For example, animals will often stop eating, reduce activity, conserve energy expenditure, and increase sleep-time when injured or infected. Despite these and substantial metabolic and hematological responses, the host is still highly vulnerable to infection. Since recorded time, efforts have been targeted at augmentation of various defense mechanisms in an attempt to shift the balance in favor of the host. Prof. P. De Somer’s contributions towards shifting this balance in the direction of the host scans years of great achievements. More recently, the Rega Institute has carried on this tradition by uncovering fundamental mechanisms by which the host accomplishes its defense. One of Dr. De Somer’s principal concepts for the Rega Institute was as a center to study host defense mechanisms.