Objective To investigate production of interleukine 6 (IL-6)and interleukine 8 (IL-8)by retinal pigment epithelial (RPE)cells and its inhibition by interleukine 1 receptor antigonist (IL-1ra).Methods cultured human RPE cells was treated with interleukine 1beta;(IL-1beta;,10ng/ml)and/orIL-1ra(IL-1ra,1、10、100 ng/ml).IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA and protein expression were detected by ELISA, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization (ISH)assay. Results IL-6 and IL-8 in conditioned media of RPE cells in controls was 2000 pg/ml and 5000 pg/ml respectively after stimulation of IL-1beta; FOR 8h.IL-1ra(100ng/ml)significantly inhibited IL-6(300 pg/ml,t=8.011,P＜0.01)and IL-8(450 pg/ml,t=11.446,P＜0.01) production compared with the controls.In situ hybridization displayed that there was a marked reduction in mRNA expression of IL-6 and IL-8 in IL-1ra treated group compared with controls.Conclusion The production of IL-6 and IL-8 can be significantly reduced by IL-1ra in cultured human RPE cells after stimulation of IL-1beta;