Inflammation plays an important role in the development and progression of a variety of cardiovascular conditions, most notably coronary atherosclerosis and congestive heart failure. 1, 2 A number of inflammatory molecules have been implicated in these processes, including interleukin-1 (IL-1). The IL-1 gene family consists of 3 proteins, IL-1α, IL-1ß, and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra). IL-1α and IL-1ß exert their similar effects by binding to the IL-1 type I receptor. The IL-1 type II receptor also binds IL-1α and IL-1ß but acts as a decoy receptor and is not involved in signal transduction, thereby counterbalancing the inflammatory effects of IL-1α and IL-1ß. IL-1ra is an endogenous inhibitor of IL-1α and IL-1ß, which competitively binds to the IL-1 type I receptor without activating it. 3