OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of IL-1beta on the development of intestinal epithelial stem cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Normal intestinal epithelial cell line IEC-18 cells were cultured in the presence or absence of 200 pM of IL-1beta in serum-free medium (SFM) for various time periods. The effects of IL-1beta on intestinal stem cell self-renewal and IEC-18 cell proliferation were evaluated by a colony formation assay, MTT assay, and a focus formation assay. The expression of stemness genes including Bmi-1, Lgr-5, c-myc, Nanog, and beta-catenin in IEC-18 cells were measured by quantitative PCR and western blot analysis. RESULTS: IEC-18 cells grew as a monolayer in SFM in the absence of IL-1beta. Cellular spheres were formed when IEC-18 cells were grown in SFM in the presence of IL-1beta. IL-1beta induced the development of large colonies in the soft-agar as well as the formation of foci when IEC-18 cells were cultured in type-I collagen-coated plates. The expression of Bmi-1, Lgr-5, c-myc, Nanog, and beta-catenin were significantly increased in IEC-18 cells treated with IL-1beta. CONCLUSION: Our studies provide direct evidence the IL-1beta may play an important role in the self-renewal of intestinal epithelial stem cells and the development of cancer stem cells.