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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Visualization of IL-22-expressing Lymphocytes Using Reporter Mice

Visualization of IL-22-expressing Lymphocytes Using Reporter Mice

Published on: January 25, 2017

Interleukin-18 and stress.

Shuei Sugama¹, Bruno Conti

¹Department of Physiology, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8602, Japan. sugama@nms.ec.jp

Brain Research Reviews

|February 26, 2008

Summary

Interleukin-18 (IL-18), a cytokine involved in inflammation and sickness behavior, is influenced by stress and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This review explores the neuro-immune link between stress and IL-18.

Area of Science:

Neuroimmunology
Endocrinology
Cytokine Biology

Background:

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine implicated in infections, autoimmunity, cancer, diabetes, and atherosclerosis.
IL-18 contributes to sickness behavior, inducing anorexia and sleep, and is produced in immune, endocrine, and central nervous system (CNS) tissues.
IL-18 is constitutively produced, with levels increasing during infection and stress, and is modulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and parasympathetic system.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the evidence linking stress and IL-18 production and function.
To discuss the potential role of IL-18 in regulating the HPA axis.
To explore the implications of IL-18's neuro-immuno-modulatory actions on disease susceptibility and progression.

Main Methods:

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Literature review summarizing existing research on stress and IL-18.
Analysis of studies investigating IL-18 production in various tissues.
Examination of the relationship between HPA axis activation and IL-18 levels.

Main Results:

IL-18 levels are elevated by HPA axis activation in a tissue-specific manner.
Differential promoter and splicing usage influence IL-18 regulation.
Parasympathetic system activation may down-regulate IL-18.

Conclusions:

IL-18 may play a role in the regulation of the HPA axis.
IL-18 could mediate CNS-dependent effects on disease susceptibility and progression.
The neuro-immuno-modulatory actions of IL-18 warrant further investigation in the context of stress and disease.