Technical Articles

This article focuses on the molecular characteristics and biological functions of IL-18, systematically elaborating its crucial role as a core member of the IL-1 family in inflammation regulation and immune responses, and analyzing its clinical relevance and research progress in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

IL-18 protein is a multifunctional cytokine whose biological functions are not species-specific and play an important role in inflammatory responses, immune regulation, and disease development.

The IL-18 protein belongs to the IL-1 family of cytokines and possesses the ability to induce interferon-γ production. Billions of years of evolution have shaped the diversity, complexity, and adaptability of immune responses, and the unique biological characteristics of the IL-18 protein in barrier maintenance, danger signal transmission, and immune response amplification are a manifestation of this evolutionary process.