Interleukin-18 is a secreted protein and it belongs to the IL-1 family. IL-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine and produced by macrophages and other cells. This cytokine can induce the IFN-gamma production of T cells. The combination of this cytokine and IL12 has been shown to inhibit IL-4 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. After stimulation with IL-18, natural killer (NK) cells and certain T cells release another important cytokine called interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or type II interferon that plays an important role in activating the macrophages or other cells.
