Invitrogen™ Aletekutug Recombinant Monoclonal Antibody

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a cytokine belonging to the IL-1 family and is initially synthesized as an inactive precursor, pro-IL-18. This precursor undergoes proteolytic processing by caspase-1, leading to the production of mature IL-18. Structurally, mature IL-18 forms a complex with its receptor IL-18R alpha and, along with the accessory protein IL-18R beta, initiates a signaling cascade. Functionally, IL-18 plays a crucial role in both innate and adaptive immunity by inducing the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), particularly in concert with IL-12, which activates natural killer (NK) cells and promotes Th1 cell responses. Additionally, IL-18 can influence Th2 and IL-17-producing gamma delta T cells, macrophage activation, and inflammatory responses, underscoring its multifaceted role in immune regulation and disease pathogenesis.