Ultra-LEAF™ Purified anti-human IL-18BP Antibody, IL-18BP, W19089C,BioLegend,947703

IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) binds to IL-18 with high affinity (Kd = 400 pM), neutralizes IL-18 activity and binds to IL-18 in a stoichiometric ratio. IL-18 belongs to the Interleukin-1 family and is a potent inflammatory cytokine. IL-18 is secreted by macrophages and dendritic cells and is expressed constitutively even in the absence of an inflammatory stimulus. IL-18 induces IFN-γ production, in the presence of IL-12 or IL-15, from Th1 cells. In addition, IL-18 promotes FasL-mediated cytotoxicity by NK cells. IL-18 has been associated with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as emphysema, metabolic syndromes, inflammatory bowel disease, and sepsis among others. IL-37 also interacts with IL-18BP at limiting concentrations of IL-18BP and at a 50- to 100-fold molar excess of IL-37. This interaction increases the inhibitory effect of IL-18BP on IL-18-induced IFN-γ in an NK cell line. IL-18 and IL-18BP are elevated in patients with eczema; also, IL-18 and IL-18BP are high in serum of patients with chronic liver disease. In addition, patients with heart failure have shown increases in IL-18 but decreases in IL-18BP levels. Currently, IL-18BP is in a clinical trial for the treatment of Adult-Onset Still’s disease, an inflammatory disease, which is characterized by high levels of IL-18 in plasma.