Interleukin 18 ( born interleukin 18, IL-18 ) is a proinflammatory cytokine belonging to the interleukin 1 family. It is synthesized by macrophages and other cells of the body. It plays a significant role in infectious and autoimmune diseases. It was first discovered in 1995 as an interferon-gamma-inducing factor that increased the activity of EC cells in the spleen , and its activity is higher than that of interleukin 12 .
| Interleukin 18 (interferon-gamma inducing factor) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Designations | |
| Characters | IL18 ; IGIF, IL1F4, IL-1g, IL-18 |
| Entrez gene | 3606 |
| Hgnc | 5986 |
| OMIM | 600953 |
| Refseq | NM_001562 |
| UniProt | Q14116 |
| Other data | |
| Locus | 11th hr. , 11q22.2-q22.3 |
Properties and signaling
Interleukin-18 is synthesized as a precursor protein consisting of 192 amino acids , which, under the action of interleukin-1 converting enzyme, is cleaved to a mature protein of 157 amino acids. After secretion from the producer cell, interleukin-18 binds to either the interleukin-18-binding protein that inactivates it, or the interleukin-18-receptor complex. The latter includes the interleukin-18 receptor (IL-1R5), a member of the interleukin-1 / toll-like receptor superfamily, and the interleukin-18-complementary protein (IL-1R7). After the formation of a ligand-receptor complex, the adapter protein MyD88 and the kinase IRAK1 join it, triggering a signaling pathway that activates the pro-inflammatory transcription factor NF-κB .
Links
- Sugama S., Conti B. Interleukin-18 and stress (Neopr.) // Brain research reviews. - 2008. - June ( vol. 58 , No. 1 ). - p . 85-95 . - DOI : 10.1016 / j.brainresrev.2007.11.003 . - PMID 18295340 .