Interleukin-1β and TNF-α Act in Synergy to Inhibit Longitudinal Growth in Fetal Rat Metatarsal Bones

Abstract

We show that IL-1beta and TNF-alpha act in synergy to locally suppress longitudinal growth, an effect that can be partially reversed by IGF-I. Although growth hormone (GH)/IGF-I may improve longitudinal growth in children with chronic inflammatory diseases, our results suggest that the inflammatory process itself must be targeted to achieve normal growth.