Human CD218a (IL-18Rα) Antibody from BIOLEGEND

IL-18 is essential for both innate and adaptive immunity. The IL-18 receptor is composed of an α and a β subunit that form a high affinity heterodimer for IL-18. IL-18R1, also known as IL-18Rα chain and CD218a, is a type I transmembrane protein. It is expressed on NK cells, neutrophils, endothelial cells, and subsets of T and B cells. The expression of IL-18R1 and IL-18RAcP (IL-18Rβ) on lymphocytes are upregulated upon IL-12 stimulation. IL-23 and IL-18 synergistically enhance IL-18R1 expression on NK-like T cells. Upon IL-18 engagement, the intracellular TIR domain of IL-18R1 and IL-18RAcP recruits adaptor proteins, MyD88, and in turn recruits IRAK and TRAF6, activating NF-κB and MAPK pathways, which upregulates production of various inflammatory cytokines. The interaction of IL-18 and IL-18 receptor has been reported to be implicated in promotion of Th1 cytokine production and atherogenesis. IL-37 also binds to IL-18R1, but recruits IL-1R8 (SIGIRR) to activate anti-inflammatory responses.