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Interleukin 18




Interleukin 18 (interferon-gamma-inducing factor)
Solution structure of human IL-18
Available structures: 1j0s
Identifiers
Symbol(s) IL18; IGIF; IL-18; IL-1g; IL1F4; MGC12320
External IDs OMIM: 600953 MGI: 107936 Homologene: 1200
RNA expression pattern

More reference expression data

Orthologs
Human Mouse
Entrez 3606 16173
Ensembl ENSG00000150782 ENSMUSG00000039217
Uniprot Q14116 A0PJ18
Refseq NM_001562 (mRNA)
NP_001553 (protein)
NM_008360 (mRNA)
NP_032386 (protein)
Location Chr 11: 111.52 - 111.54 Mb Chr 9: 50.33 - 50.33 Mb
Pubmed search [1] [2]

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a cytokine produced by macrophages and other cells that belongs to the IL-1 superfamily. IL-18 works together with IL-12 to induce cell-mediated immunity following infection with microbial products like lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After stimulation with IL-18, natural killer (NK) cells and certain T cells release another important cytokine called interferon-γ (IFN-γ) or type II interferon that plays an important role in activating the macrophages or other cells. Apart from its physiological role, IL-18 is also able to induce severe inflammatory reactions, which suggests its role in certain inflammatory disorders.

The protein encoded by this gene is a proinflammatory cytokine. This cytokine can induce the IFN-gamma production of T cells. The combination of this cytokine and IL12 has been shown to inhibit IL4 dependent IgE and IgG1 production, and enhance IgG2a production of B cells. IL-18 binding protein (IL18BP) can specifically interact with this cytokine, and thus negatively regulate its biological activity.[1]


References

  1. ^ Entrez Gene: IL18 interleukin 18 (interferon-gamma-inducing factor).

Further reading

  • Biet F, Locht C, Kremer L (2002). "Immunoregulatory functions of interleukin 18 and its role in defense against bacterial pathogens.". J. Mol. Med. 80 (3): 147-62. doi:10.1007/s00109-001-0307-1. PMID 11894141.
  • Nakanishi K (2002). "[Regulation of Th1 and Th2 immune responses by IL-18]". Kekkaku 77 (2): 87-93. PMID 11905033.
  • Reddy P, Ferrara JL (2003). "Role of interleukin-18 in acute graft-vs-host disease.". J. Lab. Clin. Med. 141 (6): 365-71. doi:10.1016/S0022-2143(03)00028-3. PMID 12819633.
  • Kanai T, Uraushihara K, Totsuka T, et al. (2003). "Macrophage-derived IL-18 targeting for the treatment of Crohn's disease.". Current drug targets. Inflammation and allergy 2 (2): 131-6. PMID 14561165.
  • Matsui K, Tsutsui H, Nakanishi K (2005). "Pathophysiological roles for IL-18 in inflammatory arthritis.". Expert Opin. Ther. Targets 7 (6): 701-24. doi:10.1517/14728222.7.6.701. PMID 14640907.
  • Yoshimoto T, Nakanishi K (2006). "Roles of IL-18 in basophils and mast cells.". Allergology international : official journal of the Japanese Society of Allergology 55 (2): 105-13. doi:10.2332/allergolint.55.105. PMID 17075246.
  • Orozco A, Gemmell E, Bickel M, Seymour GJ (2007). "Interleukin 18 and periodontal disease.". J. Dent. Res. 86 (7): 586-93. PMID 17586702.


 
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Interleukin_18". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.
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