Summary
| Direction in Gulf War Illness | ↑ Elevated — higher than in the comparison group |
|---|---|
| Category | Inflammatory |
| Also described as | Pro-inflammatory cytokine |
| Compared against | HGV (healthy Gulf War veteran controls) |
| Associated symptoms | Pain, neuroinflammation |
| Test type | Blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood) |
| LOINC code | 26864-3 |
| Source | Johnson et al. 2016 — doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0157855 |
| Condition atlas | Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas |
Other conditions where Interleukin-1 (IL-1α/β) is reported
- Interleukin-1α (IL-1α) in Long COVID — ↑ elevated vs HC, R
- Interleukin-1 (IL-1α/β) in ME/CFS — ↑ elevated vs HC
See the cross-condition hub: Interleukin-1 (IL-1α/β) across conditions.
Trials, interventions and tests
In clinical-trial registrations this marker maps to the outcome term Measurement of biomarkers of inflammatory immune response. (3 registered trials use a matching outcome measure).
Clinical trials using Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) as an outcome
- NCT06294756: Sulfureous Water Therapy in Viral Respiratory Diseases (Completed)
Outcome measure: To assess if H2S present in STW can interfere with concentration of inflammatory markers ( as IL1B, IL-6, ACE, S100B, GSS, Hs-CRP) typically alterated in long covid patients. - NCT05128292: Effect of CoQ10 Plus Selenium Supplementation on Clinical Outcomes and Biochemical Markers in ME/CFS (CoSeME Study) (Completed)
Outcome measure: Measurement of biomarkers of inflammatory immune response. - NCT01650636: Patient-Partner Stress Management Effects on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms and Neuroimmune Process (Completed)
Outcome measure: Changes in Neuroimmune Regulation Measured by Ratio of Pro-Inflammatory to Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines
Interventions studied alongside this marker
Hypothesis-generating links from trial outcome usage and literature co-occurrence. Not treatment recommendations.
- Coenzyme Q10 — 1 trial, 6 PubMed co-citations
e.g. Coenzyme Q10 and/or stevioside enhance growth, hypoxia tolerance, immune responses, antioxidant capacity…
Commercial test availability
Interleukin-1 (IL-1) — specialty laboratory test. Specialty cytokine panel; not all sites offer standalone IL-1.
Links are for reference only; availability, specimen requirements and coverage vary by location.
Related Inflammatory markers in Gulf War Illness
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) ↑
- Interleukin-8 (IL-8 / CXCL8) ↑
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) ↑
- Neopterin ↑
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP) ↑
- sCD26 (soluble DPPIV) ↕
- sCD14 ↑
- Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) ↑
Full list: Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas.
Frequently asked questions
Is Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) high or low in Gulf War Illness?
Elevated. Studies summarised in the OSMF atlas report higher Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in Gulf War Illness than in healthy Gulf War veteran controls. Source: Johnson et al. 2016.
What symptoms is Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) associated with in Gulf War Illness?
The cited literature associates this marker with Pain, neuroinflammation. These are population-level associations and do not mean the marker causes the symptoms.
Which test measures Interleukin-1β (IL-1β)?
It is measured as a blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood). The standard laboratory code is LOINC 26864-3. Commercial laboratories such as Quest Diagnostics, ARUP Laboratories list an orderable assay.
Is one abnormal Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) result diagnostic of Gulf War Illness?
No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Gulf War Illness. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.
Is Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) specific to Gulf War Illness?
No. The same marker is also reported in Long COVID, ME/CFS in this atlas, so it reflects shared biology (for example inflammation or vascular stress) rather than a condition-specific signature.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Page generated from gulf-war-illness.json · Browse: Gulf War Illness atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages
Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.