Microarray-based identification of novel biomarkers in IL-1-mediated diseases

Interleukin 1b (IL-1b) is emerging as mediator of a wide range of human diseases. Availability of IL-1 blockers that result in clinical benefits to patients with these diseases is creating a demand for biomarkers to diagnose as well as to predict and follow responses to therapy. Blood gene expression profiling can be used to identify such biomarkers. This review will summarize recent studies in the field and will discuss some of the challenges raised by the use of this technology in biomarker discovery.