Automated description from the Alliance of Genome Resources (Release 7.0.0)
Enables cytokine activity. Involved in several processes, including negative regulation of cell communication; positive regulation of cytokine production; and positive regulation of intracellular signal transduction. Acts upstream of or within several processes, including ectopic germ cell programmed cell death; extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway in absence of ligand; and positive regulation of macromolecule biosynthetic process. Located in extracellular space and secretory granule. Is expressed in several structures, including early conceptus; genitourinary system; hemolymphoid system; intestine; and skin. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in several diseases, including autoimmune disease (multiple); blood platelet disease (multiple); cervix disease (multiple); eye disease (multiple); and lung disease (multiple). Orthologous to human IL1B (interleukin 1 beta).