NCBI Summary:
The protein encoded by this gene functions as an inhibitor of the proinflammatory cytokine, IL18. It binds IL18, prevents the binding of IL18 to its receptor, and thus inhibits IL18-induced IFN-gamma production, resulting in reduced T-helper type 1 immune responses. This protein is constitutively expressed and secreted in mononuclear cells. Elevated level of this protein is detected in the intestinal tissues of patients with Crohn's disease. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been described for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2011]
General function
Extracellular binding protein
Comment
Cellular localization
Secreted
Comment
Ovarian function
Comment
Expression regulated by
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Ovarian localization
, Follicular Fluid
Comment
IL-18 and IL-18 binding protein concentration in ovarian follicular fluid of women with unexplained infertility to PCOS during in vitro fertilization. Zhang H et al. (2020) The correlation between the concentration of interleukin (IL) 18 in follicular fluid and the pathogenesis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is unclear. Therefore, we tested the IL-18 and IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) levels in follicular fluid (FF) and serum in PCOS women undergoing reproductive measures and to explore their possibly correlation with PCOS. Serum and pooled follicular fluid levels of IL-18, IL-18BP and IL-18/IL-18BP ratios were evaluated in sixty patients with PCOS and sixty women with unexplained infertility undergoing in vitro fertilization. The FF IL-18 levels were increased in PCOS group than the CON group (p < 0.01), and the IL-18 levels were significantly higher in the FF than in serum in PCOS group. Furthermore, the elevated FF IL-18 levels have no correlation with the serum IL-18 levels. Additionally, the expression of IL-18 in the follicular fluid of the overweight PCOS patients was increased compared to the normal weight PCOS patients, while in the overweight patients, FF IL-18 was significantly higher in the PCOS group than in the control group. The FF IL-18 and IL-18BP may have a local involvement in the pathogenesis of PCOS. The PCOS itself and overweight will aggravate the local inflammatory response in the ovary. Further studies are needed to elucidate this issue.//////////////////