IL-18 Recombinant Rabbit mAb (SDT-2142-2-2)

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine in the IL-1 family that exerts distinct immune effects depending on the local cytokine environment. It is expressed as a 24 kDa precursor by endothelial and epithelial cells, keratinocytes, gamma δ T cells, and phagocytes. The precursor is activated intracellularly by Caspase-1 mediated proteolysis to release the 17 kDa mature cytokine. The precursor can also be released by necrotic cells for extracellular cleavage by multiple proteases. IL-18 activation is induced by infection or tissue damage and contributes to disease pathology in chronic inflammation. IL-18 also promotes myeloid dendritic cell maturation and triggers neutrophil respiratory burst. In cancer, IL-18 exhibits diverse activities including enhancing anti-tumor immunity, inhibiting or promoting angiogenesis, and promoting tumor cell metastasis. Mature human IL-18 shares approximately 63% amino acid sequence identity with mouse and rat IL-18. Alternative splicing in human ovarian cancer generates an isoform that is resistant to Caspase-1 activation. A cell surface form can be expressed on M-CSF induced macrophages and released in response to bacterial endotoxin.