Expression of ADAM33 is a novel regulatory mechanism in IL-18-secreted process in gastric cancer.

IL-18 has recently been reported to play a critical role in tumor migration, invasion, and metastasis. Because IL-18 has various biological activities after its secretion as an 18 kDa mature form, the regulation of the IL-18 secretion process is an important step in tumor progression. This study investigated the implication of IL-18 in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-D-regulated migration, along with the role of the IL-18 secretion process.

IL-18 enhances ULBP2 expression through the MAPK pathway in leukemia cells.

Expression of UL16-binding proteins (ULBPs) has been reported in various cancers, such as leukemia and melanoma, and also in some other cancer cell lines. However, the factors that modulate the expression of ULBPs are not well defined. In this study, we investigated the effects of IL-18 on the expression of NKG2D ligands in leukemia cells.

Sphingosine kinase inhibitor suppresses IL-18-induced interferon-gamma production through inhibition of p38 MAPK activation in human NK cells.

Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in the innate immune response. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a well-known interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma inducing factor, which stimulates immune response in NK and T cells. Sphingosine kinase (SPHK) catalyzes the formation of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), which acts as a second messenger to function as an anti-apoptotic factor and proliferation stimulator of immune cells.