Interleukin-18.

Abstract

Interleukin-18 (IL-18), a recently described member of the IL-1 cytokine superfamily, is now recognized as an important regulator of innate and acquired immune responses. IL-18 is expressed at sites of chronic inflammation, in autoimmune diseases, in a variety of cancers, and in the context of numerous infectious diseases. This short review will describe the basic biology of IL-18 and thereafter address its potential effector and regulatory role in several human disease states including autoimmunity and infection. IL-18, previously known as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-inducing factor, was identified as an endotoxin-induced serum factor that stimulated IFN-gamma production by murine splenocytes [(1) ]. IL-18 was cloned from a murine liver cell cDNA library generated from animals primed with heat-killed Propionibacterium acnes and subsequently challenged with lipopolysaccharide [(2) ]. Nucleotide sequencing of murine IL-18 predicted a precursor polypeptide of 192 amino acids lacking a conventional signal peptide and a mature protein of 157 amino acids. Subsequent cloning of human IL-18 cDNA revealed 65% homology with murine IL-18 [(3) ] and showed that both contain an unusual leader sequence consisting of 35 amino acids at their N terminus.

• Authors: J Alastair Gracie, Susan E Robertson, Iain B McInnes
• Journal: Journal of leukocyte biology (J Leukoc Biol) Vol. 73 Issue 2 Pg. 213-24 (Feb 2003) ISSN: 0741-5400 [Print] England
• PMID: 12554798 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• IL18R1 protein, human
• Interleukin-18
• Interleukin-18 Receptor alpha Subunit
• Receptors, Interleukin
• Receptors, Interleukin-18

Topics

• Animals
• Autoimmune Diseases (immunology)
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Humans
• Infections (immunology)
• Inflammation (immunology)
• Interleukin-18 (antagonists & inhibitors, genetics, physiology)
• Interleukin-18 Receptor alpha Subunit
• Receptors, Interleukin (physiology)
• Receptors, Interleukin-18