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Figure 1 | Cardiovascular Diabetology

Figure 1

From: The role of interleukin-18 in the metabolic syndrome

Figure 1

Regulation and biological effects of interleukin-18. The cytokine is expressed as a precursor, pro-IL-18, which is inactive until cleaved by caspase-1. Once secreted, IL-18 is bound and inactivated by IL-18 binding protein (IL-18 BP), and only the free fraction can stimulate a signal transduction via the β-chain of the IL-18 receptor (IL-18R). The biological effect is dependent on the cytokine milieu: IL-18 may stimulate a Th2 response in combination with IL-2, and may act synergistically with IL-12 to stimulate a Th1 response with production of IFN-γ, a central feature of the atherosclerotic lesion.

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Cardiovascular Diabetology

ISSN: 1475-2840