The invention is based on the discovery that interleukin- 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha)is expressed on the proinflammatoryCD 14+CD 16+ monocyte subset. Importantly, since IL-1 alpha appears to bealmost exclusively expressed on this monocytesubset and not other leukocytes, it represents an ideal marker for targetingthe CD 14+CD 16+ monocyte subset. The effectiveness ofan agent that depletes such pathogenic cells or modulates IL-1 alpha functionon such cells type can be monitored by assessingCD 14+CD 16+ monocyte levels or functionality.
