Objective: To clarify the effect of interleukin (IL) 18 on cartilage degeneration by studying the profile of IL18 receptor (IL18R) on chondrocytes and the direct effect of IL18 on production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), aggrecanases, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in articular chondrocytes. Methods: Monolayer cultured human articular chondrocytes were isolated from ...

Systemic onset Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SoJIA) is an autoimmune disease characterised by arthritis and systemic features. Cytokines like IL1, IL6 and IL18 are thought to be responsible for clinical symptoms. IL18 can drive NK cell function. Recently we showed high IL18 levels in plasma correlate with disease activity in SoJIA [1]. Since SoJIA patients have diminished NK cell function we i...

Immune mechanisms underlying hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not well understood. Here, we show that the Toll-like receptor TLR2 inhibits production of the proinflammatory cytokine IL18 and protects mice from DEN-induced liver carcinogenesis. On this protocol, Tlr2(-/-) mice exhibited more aggressive HCC development associated with impaired CD8(+) T-cell function. Furthermore, Ly6C(high)IL18...

A novel, constitutively expressed and secreted interleukin 18 (IL18) binding protein (IL18BP) neutralises IL18. IL18BP shares many characteristics with soluble cytokine receptors of the IL1 family in that the protein exhibits specificity for IL18, belongs to the immunoglobulin-like class of receptors and has limited amino acid sequences with those of the IL1 receptor type II. However, unlike so...

Brown and beige adipocytes recruitment in brown (BAT) or white adipose tissue, mainly in the inguinal fat pad (iWAT), meet the need for temperature adaptation in cold-exposure conditions and protect against obesity in face of hypercaloric diets. Using interleukin18 (Il18) and Il18 receptor 1- knockout (Il18r1-KO) mice, this study aimed to investigate the role of IL18 signaling in BAT and iWAT a...

Interleukin 15 (IL15) and interleukin 18 (IL18) are cytokines produced principally by macrophages during innate immune response and subsequently profoundly influence adaptive immunity. Recent studies have shown that IL15 and IL18 play an influential part in inflammatory response. Here we present recent data mainly from our own laboratories illustrating the importance of IL15 and IL18 in the ind...

Several studies have shown that interleukin-18 (IL-18) plays an important role in both innate and adaptive immune responses. In this study, we investigated the pathogenicity and immunogenicity of recombinant rabies virus expressing IL-18 (rHEP-IL18). Experimental results showed that Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice that received a single intramuscular immunization with rHEP-IL18 elicited...

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease which behaves as a complex genetic trait. At least 20 SLE risk susceptibility loci have been mapped using both candidate gene and genome-wide association strategies. The gene encoding the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL18, has been reported as a candidate gene showing an association with SLE. This pleiotropic cytokine is expressed in a r...

Circulating levels of the cytokine interleukin 18 (IL-18) are elevated in obesity. Here, we show that administration of IL-18 suppresses appetite, feed efficiency, and weight regain in food-deprived male and female C57BL/6J mice. Intraperitoneal vs. intracerebroventricular routes of IL-18 administration had similar potency and did not promote formation of a conditioned taste aversion (malaise-l...

BACKGROUND Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is highly prevalent among obese children and adolescents and is considered a predictor for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Obesity is associated with an increase in circulating levels of interleukins 6 (IL6) and 18 (IL18), which in turn would depend on polymorphisms of IL6, IL6R and IL18 genes. AIM To evaluate the asso...