Elevated systemic levels of free interleukin-18 (IL-18) in patients with Crohn's disease.
OBJECTIVE
Interleukin 18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine and a member of the IL-1 family. Animal models and investigations in humans point to an important role for this cytokine in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) is a naturally occurring antagonist of IL-18. Methods. In this study, we measured IL-18 and IL-18BP plasma concentrations and spontaneous release in cultures of colonic explants from healthy subjects (n = 41), patients with Crohn's disease (CD, n = 135), and patients with ulcerative colitis (UC, n = 93).


RESULTS
Both CD and UC patients had higher IL-18BP plasma levels than controls. Plasma levels of free, unbound IL-18 were significantly elevated in CD patients compared to healthy controls, but not in UC patients. Colonic explant cultures from inflamed areas in IBD patients released significantly higher levels of IL-18 than non-inflamed areas and controls. IL-18BP levels from the same cultures were below the detection limit over a culture period of 24 h.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results confirm the importance of IL-18 in the pathogenesis of IBD and suggest that especially in CD, IL-18BP might be produced in insufficient quantities to counteract the effects of endogenous IL-18.
Ludwiczek
Othmar
O
University Hospital Innsbruck, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Innsbruck, Austria.
Kaser
Arthur
A
Novick
Daniela
D
Dinarello
Charles A
CA
Rubinstein
Menachem
M
Tilg
Herbert
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000378:metabolism; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D006023:Glycoproteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020382:Interleukin-18; C118370:interleukin-18 binding protein