Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41838241›Full record

ReviewClinical reviews in allergy & immunology2026

The Roles of Interleukin-18 in Inflammation and Autoimmune Disease.

Yue Zhao, Yuan Tang, Xiaoxia Zhu, Yunxia Hou, Hongbin Li, Francesco Ciccia, Hejian Zou, Liwei Lu

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Yue Zhao *Department of Pathology and Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Yuan Tang *Department of Pathology and Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Xiaoxia ZhuDepartment of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Yunxia HouDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Immunodiagnosis of Rheumatic and Immunological Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China.
Hongbin LiDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Immunodiagnosis of Rheumatic and Immunological Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China.
Francesco CicciaRheumatology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy. francesco.ciccia@unicampania.it.
Hejian ZouDepartment of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. hjzou@fudan.edu.cn.
Liwei LuDepartment of Pathology and Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. liweilu@hku.hk.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a member of the IL-1 cytokine family with significant homology to IL-1β. New emerging evidence indicates that IL-18 acts as a pivotal molecular bridge connecting innate and adaptive immunity, functioning through tightly regulated mechanisms involving inflammasome-dependent and -independent proteolytic processing. The activity of IL-18 is primarily maintained by IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP), which neutralizes IL-18 under physiological conditions. However, dysregulations in the IL-18/IL-18BP axis result in excessive IL-18 bioactivity, driving tissue inflammation and damage closely associated with autoimmune pathogenesis. Herein, we review recent advances in IL-18 biology and its expanding roles in the development of various autoimmune diseases. The molecular mechanisms by which IL-18 mediates organ-specific pathology are discussed to highlight its diverse effector functions across different autoimmune conditions. In addition, we evaluate emerging therapeutic approaches targeting the IL-18 pathway, with a focus on their potential and challenges in translational clinical research.

Indexed as

Autoimmune DiseasesInflammationInterleukin-18Adaptive ImmunityAnimalsAutoimmunityHumansImmunity, InnateInflammasomesIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsSignal TransductionInflammasomesIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsInterleukin-18interleukin-18 binding proteinAutoimmunityInflammationInnate and adaptive immunityInterleukin-18Interleukin-18 binding protein

Identifiers

PMID41838241

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.