title: IL-18 binding protein increases spontaneous and IL-1-induced prostaglandin production via inhibition of IFN-gamma.
abstract: IL-18 shares with IL-1 the same family of receptors and several identical signal transduction pathways. Because of these similarities, IL-18 was investigated for its ability to induce prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) synthesis in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), a prominent, proinflammatory property of IL-1. IL-18 was highly active in PBMC by inducing the synthesis of the chemokine IL-8; however, no induction of PGE(2) synthesis nor cyclooxygenase type-2 gene expression was observed in PBMC stimulated with IL-18. In the same cultures, IL-1beta induced a 12-fold increase in PGE(2). Although IL-1beta-induced IL-8 synthesis was augmented 3-fold by IL-18, IL-18 suppressed IL-1beta-induced PGE(2) production by 40%. The suppressive effect of IL-18 on PGE(2) production was mediated by interferon (IFN)-gamma because anti-human IFN-gamma-antibody prevented IL-18-induced reduction in PGE(2). Consistent with these observations, IL-12, a known inducer of IFN-gamma, augmented IL-1beta-induced IFN-gamma but suppressed IL-1beta-induced PGE(2) by 75%. IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) is a naturally occurring and specific inhibitor of IL-18. When recombinant IL-18BP was added to PBMC cultures, unexpectedly, spontaneous PGE(2) production increased. PGE(2) production was also increased by the addition of IL-18BP to PBMC stimulated with either IL-1beta or IL-12 and also in whole blood cultures stimulated with Staphylococcus epidermidis. These studies demonstrate that IL-18BP decreases endogenous IL-18 activity by reducing IFN-gamma-mediated responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80262, USA.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Reznikov
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Westcott
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frishman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fantuzzi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Novick
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubinstein
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dinarello
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007375:Interleukin-1; D020382:Interleukin-18; C118370:interleukin-18 binding protein; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D015232:Dinoprostone