Regulation of interferon-γ production by IL-12 and IL-18

✍ Scribed by Haruki Okamura; Shin-ichiro Kashiwamura; Hiroko Tsutsui; Tomohiro Yoshimoto; Kenji Nakanishi

• Book ID: 104358909
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 566 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0952-7915
• DOI: 10.1016/s0952-7915(98)80163-5

✦ Synopsis

IL-18 (interferon-inducing factor) and IL-12 exhibit a marked synergism in interferon-gamma induction in T cells. Investigations into the mechanism of this synergism have revealed that IL-12 upregulates expression of the IL-18 receptor on cells producing interferon-gamma. Although IL-18 does not induce the development of Th1 cells, it is essential for the effective induction and activation of Th1 cells by IL-12. As for natural killer cells, IL-18 seems to activate them independently of IL-12. Although IL-12 and IL-18 activate both innate and acquired immunity, their excessive production by activated macrophages may induce multiple organ disorders including disruption of the immune system.