IL1B and atherosclerosis: The T allele of IL-1β + 3954C/T is less common than the С allele and is related to an elevated serum IL-1β level.[14] A polymorphism leading to IL-1β overproduction may increase the risk of autoimmune diseases such as atherosclerosis.[14] Although many studies have presented a connection between IL-1β + 3954C/T and MI risk,[15–23] the sample sizes of these studies were limited, and the results are controversial.