Interleukin-18 expression and modulation in human corneal epithelial cells

Purpose. The interferon-?-inducing factor Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a recently described cytokine that appears to have multiple important pro-inflammatory effects including the induction of interferon-? (IFN-?) by activated T-cells. The expression of IL-18 by human cornea has not been previously reported. In the present study, we examine the possibility that human corneal epithelial cells are capable of producing this leukocyte-activating factor...