Release of interleukin-1 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with tuberculosis and active inflammation.

Peripheral blood monocytes from patients with active tuberculosis and acute inflammatory disease showed spontaneous interleukin-1 production when compared with those from control patients or healthy controls. Moreover, interleukin-1 production appeared to be a more specific indicator of active disease than were other commonly used indices, such as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum C-reactive protein levels.