Title : Structural basis for the specific recognition of
IL-18 by its alpha
receptor
Abstract :
- Interleukin 18 ( IL-18 ), a member of the IL-1 family of cytokines, is an important regulator of innate and acquired immune responses
- It signals through its ligand-binding primary receptor IL-18Rα and accessory receptor IL-18Rβ.
- Here we report the crystal structure of IL-18 with the ectodomain of IL-18Rα, which reveals the structural basis for their specific recognition
- It confirms that surface charge complementarity determines the ligand-binding specificity of primary receptors in the IL-1 receptor family
- We suggest that IL-18 signaling complex adopts an architecture similar to other agonistic cytokines and propose a general ligand- receptor assembly and activation model for the IL-1 family