IL18 Works Like a Two-Side Coin in Acute Pancreatitis.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Genetics
• Immunology

Background:

• Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a prevalent condition with limited therapeutic options.
• Identifying reliable biomarkers is crucial for early diagnosis, treatment, and improved patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify core genes associated with AP using bioinformatics and machine learning.
• To evaluate the role of characteristic genes in AP pathogenesis and clinical features.
• To establish the causal relationship between IL-18 and AP.

Main Methods:

• Bioinformatics and machine learning for core gene identification.
• In vivo validation using AP murine models.
• Mendelian randomization (MR) studies utilizing genome-wide association studies (GWAS).

Main Results:

• IL-18 was identified as a characteristic gene for AP, with significantly increased expression (p<0.001) and high diagnostic accuracy (AUC=0.917).
• High IL-18 expression was associated with inhibited immune responses.
• MR analysis indicated that increased IL-18 is associated with a lower risk of AP (OR=0.908, p=0.011).

Conclusions:

• Elevated IL-18 levels serve as a predictive biomarker for clinical prognosis and immune responses in AP.
• The findings suggest that increased IL-18 may indicate a self-limiting course for AP.
• IL-18 holds potential as a significant biomarker for acute pancreatitis management.