IL-18

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a potent proinflammatory cytokine that induces interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production from Th1 cells, NK cells and activated macrophages, particularly in the presence of IL-12. IL-18 also functions in developmental regulation of T-lymphocyte helper type I cells and in Fas-mediated cytotoxicity. Suppression of IL-18 activity is being investigated for treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. It acts by inducing heterodimerization of the two subunits of its receptor, IL-18RAlpha and IL-18RBeta shows structural similarity to IL-1.