白介素18结合蛋白研究进展

白介素18结合蛋白（IL-18BP）是新近发现的一种糖蛋白，属免疫球蛋白超家族成员，目前已发现有6种IL-18BP的同工蛋白，IL-18BP可以在体内外有效抑制IL-18的作用。因而被认为是IL-18的天然拮抗剂，另外发现几种痘病毒编码的蛋白质与IL-18BP有高度同源性，其病毒产物可减弱IL-18诱导的Th1反应，利用IL-18BP拮抗IL-18的作用进行基因治疗将为某些自身免疫性疾病的治疗开辟一条新的途径。

Progress in the studies of interleukin-18 binding protein

Interleukin-18 binding protein(IL-18BP) is a novel glycoprotein and belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily. So far, four human and two mouse IL-18BP isoforms have been found in various cDNA libraries. IL-18BP is regarded as a natural antagonist for IL-18 which efficiently inhibits the biological functions of IL-18 in vitro and in vivo. In addition, much greater homology to IL-18BP can be found in the proteins encoded by several poxviruses and the productions of these proteins by poxviruses can reduce the Th1 response induced by IL-18. It is suggested that IL-18BP as an antagonists to IL-18 may have therapeutic potential in some autoimmune disease if used as recombinant protein or used in gene therapy.