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Elevation of IL-18 in human sepsis
S R Grobmyer1, E Lin, S F Lowry
1Department of Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Journal of Clinical Immunology
|August 15, 2000
Summary
Interleukin-18 (IL-18) circulates in healthy adults and is part of the inflammatory response. Septic patients show elevated IL-18 levels, suggesting non-LPS triggers in sepsis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cytokine Biology
Background:
- Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is an immunoregulatory cytokine.
- IL-18 shares features with IL-1beta and induces interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate IL-18 levels in healthy adults and septic patients.
- To determine if lipopolysaccharide (LPS) influences IL-18 in humans.
Main Methods:
- Measured plasma IL-18 in healthy adults after LPS challenge.
- Assessed serum IL-18 in surgical intensive care unit (ICU) septic patients.
- Compared IL-18 levels between septic patients and healthy controls.
Main Results:
- LPS challenge did not significantly increase plasma IL-18 in healthy adults.
- Septic patients exhibited significantly elevated serum IL-18 compared to healthy adults (1,122 vs. 191 pg/ml).
- Serum IL-18 did not correlate with other inflammatory mediators in septic patients.
Conclusions:
- IL-18 circulates in healthy adults and is involved in the human systemic inflammatory response.
- Stimuli other than LPS likely induce IL-18 production in human sepsis.
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