Activation of the Interleukin-18 Signaling Pathway via Direct Receptor Dimerization in the Absence of Interleukin-18.

Interleukin 18 (IL-18) is a key cytokine involved in the activation of T and NK cells, which are major effector cells in tumor killing. However, recombinant IL-18 showed limited efficacy in clinical trials. A recent study showed the lack of efficacy was largely due to the existence of IL-18BP, a soluble decoy receptor for IL-18.

Viral and Immunological Analytes are Poor Predictors of the Clinical Treatment Response in Kaposi's Sarcoma Patients.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV) is the etiologic agent for Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). The prognostic utility of KSHV and HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) viremia as well as immunological parameters in clinical management of participants with KS is unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate viral and immunological parameters as predictors of KS treatment responses in participants with KS from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Similar Immunological Profiles Between African Endemic and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Associated Epidemic Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) Patients Reveal the Primary Role of KS-Associated Herpesvirus in KS Pathogenesis.

Background: Kaposi sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is etiologically linked to all KS forms, but mechanisms underlying KS development are unclear. The incidence of KS in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected (HIV-1+) individuals implicates immune dysregulation; however, the lack of characterization of KSHV immune responses in endemic KS makes the role of HIV-1 unclear. The study objective was to investigate the HIV-1 and KSHV roles in viral nucleic acid detection, antibody responses, and cytokine responses in polymerase chain reaction-confirmed epidemic KS and endemic KS patients and non-cancer controls from sub-Saharan Africa.