IL-18 belongs to the IL-1 superfamily and is mainly produced by macrophages, but also produced by other cell types, stimulating various cell types and having pleiotropic functions. IL-18 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that pro-inflammatory type 1 response. Together with IL-12, it induces cell-mediated immunity after infection with microbial products such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS). IL-18 and IL12 combine to act on CD4, CD8 T cells and NK cells to induce the production of IFNγ. Type II interferon plays an important role in activating macrophages or other cells. It has been demonstrated that this combination of IL-18 and IL-12 inhibits the production of IL-4-dependent IgE and IgG1 in B cells and enhances the production of IgG2a. Importantly, without IL-12 or IL-15, IL-18 does not induce the production of IFNγ, but plays an important role in the differentiation of naive T cells into Th2 cells and stimulates mast cells and basophils to produce IL-4, IL-13, and chemical mediators such as histamine.
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