@Article{,
AUTHOR = {Othmar Ludwiczek, Arthur Kaser, Daniela Novick, Charles A. Dinarello, Menachem Rubinstein, Herbert Tilg},
TITLE = {Elevated systemic levels of free interleukin-18 (IL-18) in patients with Crohn’s disease},
JOURNAL = {European Cytokine Network},
VOLUME = {16},
YEAR = {2005},
NUMBER = {1},
PAGES = {27--33},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/ECN/v16n1/66233},
ISSN = {1952-4005},
ABSTRACT = {Objectives. 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.},
DOI = {}
}