Significant elevation of serum interleukin-18 levels in patients with acute pancreatitis

Background We have reported that peripheral lymphocyte reduction due to apoptosis is linked to the development of subsequent infectious complications in patients with severe acute pancreatitis and that Th1 (helper T cell type 1)/Th2 (helper T cell type 2) balance tends to cause Th1 suppression in experimental severe acute pancreatitis. It has been reported that interleukin (IL)-18 is a cytokine produced from Kupffer cells and activated macrophages, and that IL-18 acts on Th1 cells and in combination with IL-12 strongly induces production of interferon-γ. However, the role of IL-18 in acute pancreatitis has not yet been fully understood.