{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"IL-1a is a dual-function cytokine, acting as a transcription factor and a cell-signaling molecule. The 31 kDa precursor form is biologically active in the cytosol and as a membrane protein. IL-1a can be cleaved by calpain into the biologically active 17 kDa mature form that regulates the expression of NFKB, and IFN-y and its effectors. Cancer stem cells use IL-1a to maintain an inflammatory tumor microenvironment, however IL-1a is also used in recruiting and proliferating immune cells as a necrosis alarmin in damaged epithelia. IL-1a induces NFKB and STAT3 signaling that supports cancer stem cell growth. IL-1a is a major cytokine in innate inflammation signaling pathways, and is thus involved in many inflammatory diseases and reactions to oxidative stress."}]},{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"IL-1a is involved in cancer cell cross-talk and metastasis, and the secretion of cell growth, angiogenesis, and inflammation factors as a Damage-Associated Molecular Pattern. Higher expression of IL-1a has been found in gastric cancer and squamous carcinomas of the head and neck that exhibit distant metastasis. IL-1a has also been associated with tumor de-differentiation and metastasis in breast cancer, and with tumor proliferation and angiogenesis in pancreatic cancer."}]}]}