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J. Exp. Med.,
Volume 188, Number 8, October 19, 1998 1485-1492
By


From the * Department of Immunology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G11 6NT, United
Kingdom; the Interleukin (IL)-18 induces interferon (IFN)-
Department of Virology, St. Bartholomew and Royal London School of Medicine,
Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, London EC1A 7BE, United Kingdom;
and the § Department of Immunology, University of Newcastle, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH,
United Kingdom
synthesis and synergizes with IL-12 in T helper
type 1 (Th1) but not Th2 cell development. We report here that IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) is
selectively expressed on murine Th1 but not Th2 cells. IL-18R mRNA was expressed constitutively and consistently in long-term cultured clones, as well as on newly polarized Th1 but
not Th2 cells. IL-18 sustained the expression of IL-12R
2 mRNA, indicating that IL-18R
transmits signals that maintain Th1 development through the IL-12R complex. In turn, IL-12
upregulated IL-18R mRNA. Antibody against an IL-18R-derived peptide bound Th1 but not
Th2 clones. It also labeled polarized Th1 but not Th2 cells derived from naive ovalbumin-T
cell antigen receptor-
transgenic mice (D011.10). Anti-IL-18R antibody inhibited IL-18-
induced IFN-
production by Th1 clones in vitro. In vivo, anti-IL-18R antibody reduced local inflammation and lipopolysaccharide-induced mortality in mice. This was accompanied by
shifting the balance from Th1 to Th2 responses, manifest as decreased IFN-
and proinflammatory cytokine production and increased IL-4 and IL-5 synthesis. Therefore, these data provide a direct mechanism for the selective effect of IL-18 on Th1 but not Th2 cells. They also
show that the synergistic effect of IL-12 and IL-18 on Th1 development may be due to the reciprocal upregulation of their receptors. Furthermore, IL-18R is a cell surface marker distinguishing Th1 from Th2 cells and may be a therapeutic target.
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