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Updated: Jul 8, 2025

An IL-8 Transiently Transgenized Mouse Model for the In Vivo Long-term Monitoring of Inflammatory Responses
Published on: July 7, 2017
Biological and clinical roles of IL-18 in inflammatory diseases
Emily Landy1, Hallie Carol2,3, Aaron Ring4
1Program in Microbiology and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Abstract:
Several new discoveries have revived interest in the pathogenic potential and possible clinical roles of IL-18. IL-18 is an IL-1 family cytokine with potent ability to induce IFNγ production. However, basic investigations and now clinical observations suggest a more complex picture. Unique aspects of IL-18 biology at the levels of transcription, activation, secretion, neutralization, receptor distribution and signalling help to explain its pleiotropic roles in mucosal and systemic inflammation. Blood biomarker studies reveal a cytokine for which profound elevation, associated with detectable 'free IL-18', defines a group of autoinflammatory diseases in which IL-18 dysregulation can be a primary driving feature, the so-called 'IL-18opathies'. This impressive specificity might accelerate diagnoses and identify patients amenable to therapeutic IL-18 blockade. Pathogenically, human and animal studies identify a preferential activation of CD8+ T cells over other IL-18-responsive lymphocytes. IL-18 agonist treatments that leverage the site of production or subversion of endogenous IL-18 inhibition show promise in augmenting immune responses to cancer. Thus, the unique aspects of IL-18 biology are finally beginning to have clinical impact in precision diagnostics, disease monitoring and targeted treatment of inflammatory and malignant diseases.
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