Disease relevance of IL18

• Expression of the interleukin-18 gene from rhesus macaque by the simian immunodeficiency virus does not result in increased viral replication [1].
• In contrast, infections of cynomolgus macaques with nonpathogenic SHIVs-TH09V3 and -MD14 did not cause such IL-18 elevation, showing no decline of CD4(+) T cells and no or low viral set point level following primary viremia (three of three cases) [2].
• Interleukin-18: a proinflammatory cytokine in HIV-1 infection [3].
• Consequently, involvement of IL-18 in these disorders has been postulated and demonstrated in patients with lipodistrophy, or with hypertriglyceridemia [3].
• Several studies have shown increased levels of IL-18 in HIV-seronegative subjects with obesity, insulin resistance and type II diabetes [3].

High impact information on IL18

• Interleukin 18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine expressed by several cell types, including activated dendritic cells and macrophages, that acts in synergy with IL-12 as an important amplifying factor for IFN-gamma production and Th1 development [4].
• The predicted amino acid sequence for rhesus IL-18 had 96% homology with the human one, differing in only 8 of 193 residues [1].
• The cell line generated by SIV(IL-18) released large quantities of IL-18 into the supernatant, whereas the one obtained from SIV(mIL-18) showed the accumulation of IL-18 in the cytoplasm [1].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of IL18

• Furthermore, serum levels of IL-18 significantly decreased after highly active antiretroviral therapy [3].

References