title: Interleukin 18 in the CNS.
abstract: Interleukin (IL)-18 is a cytokine isolated as an important modulator of immune responses and subsequently shown to be pleiotropic. IL-18 and its receptors are expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) where they participate in neuroinflammatory/neurodegenerative processes but also influence homeostasis and behavior. Work on IL-18 null mice, the localization of the IL-18 receptor complex in neurons and the neuronal expression of decoy isoforms of the receptor subunits are beginning to reveal the complexity and the significance of the IL-18 system in the CNS. This review summarizes current knowledge on the central role of IL-18 in health and disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alboni
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cervia
authors.forename: Shuei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sugama
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Conti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020274:Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000378:metabolism*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017628:Microglia / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D053700:Receptors, Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D053700:Receptors, Interleukin-8