Interleukin (IL)-18, a member of the IL-1 superfamily, is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is structurally similar to IL-1β. IL-18 promotes the production of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and strongly induces a Th1 response. IL-18 drives the same myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway as IL-1β. In physiological conditions, IL-18 is regulated by the endogenous inhibitor IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP), and the activity of IL-18 is balanced. It is reported that in several inflammatory diseases, the IL-18 activity is unbalanced, and IL-18 neutralization by IL-18BP is insufficient. IL-18 acts synergistically with IL-12 to induce the production of IFN-γ as a Th1 cytokine, and IL-18 acts alone to induce the production of Th2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13. In addition, IL-18 alone enhances natural killer (NK) cell activity and FAS ligand expression. The biological and pathological roles of IL-18 have been studied in many diseases. Here we review the knowledge regarding IL-18 signaling and the role of IL-18 in inflammatory kidney diseases. Findings on renal injury in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its association with IL-18 will also be presented.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Inflammation, IL-1, IL-18, inflammatory kidney disease, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, Inflammatory diseases, Diseases, neutralization, knowledge, Protein, interleukin, Kidney diseases, signaling pathway, inhibitor, expression, IFN-γ, binding, NF-κB, association, interferon gamma, IL-13, IL-4, IL-1β, Signaling, Ligand, Inflammatory, Injury, natural killer, Th2 cytokine, pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-12, finding, physiological conditions, renal, Cell, ENhance, Th1 cytokine, reported, addition, promote, induce, regulated, pathological role, Th1 response, 【제목키워드】 Interleukin-18,