Human IL-18 Recombinant Protein

Interleukin 18 (IL-18), also know an IL-1F4, was isolated as a co-factor that, in synergism with IL-12, stimulated the production of IFN gamma in Th1 cells. It is now understood that IL-18 is an important link between innate and adaptive immune responses and a regulator of both cellular and humoral immunity. IL-18 is secreted in its active form following cleavage by caspase 1 in response to inflammatory and infectious stimuli. In addition to its effects on Th1 cells, IL-18 is a strong stimulator of the activity of natural killer cells alone or in combination with IL-15, and of CD8+ lymphocytes. Together with IL-2, IL-18 can also stimulate the production of IL-13 and of other Th2 cytokines. IL-18 plays a role in numerous inflammatory-associated disorders.