SpermatogenesisOnline 1.0
 

Tag Content
SG ID
SG00001905 
UniProt Accession
Theoretical PI
5.97  
Molecular Weight
22303 Da  
Genbank Nucleotide ID
Genbank Protein ID
Gene Name
Il18 
Gene Synonyms/Alias
Igif 
Protein Name
Interleukin-18 
Protein Synonyms/Alias
IL-18 Interferon gamma-inducing factor;IFN-gamma-inducing factor Interleukin-1 gamma;IL-1 gammaFlags: Precursor 
Organism
Rattus norvegicus (Rat) 
NCBI Taxonomy ID
10116 
Chromosome Location
chr:8;53936584-53943230;1
View in Ensembl genome browser  
Function in Stage
Function in Cell Type
Description
Temporarily unavailable 
The information of related literatures
1. M. L. Strand, A. Wahlgren, K. Svechnikov, C. Zetterstrom, B. P. Setchell and O. Soder (2005) Interleukin-18 is expressed in rat testis and may promote germ cell growth. Mol Cell Endocrinol 240(1-2): 64-73. 

Abstract
Although host-defence mechanisms, designed to preserve the integrity of the developing germ cells are operative in the testis, the components of this protective system have yet to be characterised in detail. Here, we report that the cytokine interleukin-18 (IL-18) is expressed in the rat testis and may contribute to these defences. Thus, analysis by RT-PCR and Western blotting revealed pronounced testicular expression of pro-IL-18 from postnatal day 5 and onwards. Expression of both IL-18 mRNA and protein was found to be localised to meiotic and post-meiotic germ cells as evaluated by in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The mRNA species coding for the IL-18 receptor and IL-1beta converting enzyme, which activates pro-IL-18, were also shown to be expressed by the seminiferous tubules. Recombinant IL-18 was seen to stimulate spermatogonial DNA synthesis in cultures of staged segments of rat seminiferous tubules, without influencing germ cell apoptosis. These results suggest that IL-18 may have host-protective and growth-promoting functions in the testis, but further investigations need to be done to confirm this. PMID: [16002206] 

Back to Top
Figures for illustrating the function of this protein/gene
Function
Augments natural killer cell activity in spleen cellsand stimulates interferon gamma production in T-helper type Icells. 
Back to Top
Subcellular Location
Secreted. 
Tissue Specificity
 
Gene Ontology
GO IDGO termEvidence
GO:0016324 C:apical plasma membrane IDA:RGD.
GO:0005737 C:cytoplasm IDA:RGD.
GO:0005615 C:extracellular space IDA:RGD.
GO:0001525 P:angiogenesis ISS:UniProtKB.
GO:0071320 P:cellular response to cAMP IEP:RGD.
GO:0070301 P:cellular response to hydrogen peroxide IEP:RGD.
GO:0071346 P:cellular response to interferon-gamma IEP:RGD.
GO:0071222 P:cellular response to lipopolysaccharide IEP:RGD.
GO:0071260 P:cellular response to mechanical stimulus IEP:RGD.
GO:0071407 P:cellular response to organic cyclic compound IEA:Compara.
GO:0071374 P:cellular response to parathyroid hormone stimulus IEP:RGD.
GO:0071375 P:cellular response to peptide hormone stimulus IMP:RGD.
GO:0071356 P:cellular response to tumor necrosis factor IEP:RGD.
GO:0050966 P:detection of mechanical stimulus involved in sensory perception of pain IDA:RGD.
GO:0048546 P:digestive tract morphogenesis IEP:RGD.
GO:0006954 P:inflammatory response IEA:Compara.
GO:0042095 P:interferon-gamma biosynthetic process IEA:Compara.
GO:0007611 P:learning or memory TAS:RGD.
GO:0031663 P:lipopolysaccharide-mediated signaling pathway IEA:Compara.
GO:0030324 P:lung development IEP:RGD.
GO:0000165 P:MAPK cascade IEA:Compara.
GO:0001649 P:osteoblast differentiation IEP:RGD.
GO:0042104 P:positive regulation of activated T cell proliferation ISS:UniProtKB.
GO:2000504 P:positive regulation of blood vessel remodeling IDA:RGD.
GO:0032722 P:positive regulation of chemokine production IMP:RGD.
GO:0032967 P:positive regulation of collagen biosynthetic process IDA:RGD.
GO:0010628 P:positive regulation of gene expression IEA:Compara.
GO:0032725 P:positive regulation of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor production IEA:Compara.
GO:0032729 P:positive regulation of interferon-gamma production IEA:Compara.
GO:0032731 P:positive regulation of interleukin-1 beta production IEP:RGD.
GO:0032740 P:positive regulation of interleukin-17 production IEA:Compara.
GO:0032757 P:positive regulation of interleukin-8 production IDA:RGD.
GO:2000256 P:positive regulation of male germ cell proliferation IDA:RGD.
GO:0032819 P:positive regulation of natural killer cell proliferation IEA:Compara.
GO:0043525 P:positive regulation of neuron apoptotic process IMP:RGD.
GO:0051142 P:positive regulation of NK T cell proliferation IEA:Compara.
GO:0032930 P:positive regulation of superoxide anion generation IMP:RGD.
GO:0032760 P:positive regulation of tumor necrosis factor production IMP:RGD.
GO:0043117 P:positive regulation of vascular permeability IMP:RGD.
GO:0030155 P:regulation of cell adhesion ISS:UniProtKB.
GO:0045188 P:regulation of circadian sleep/wake cycle, non-REM sleep TAS:UniProtKB.
GO:0009409 P:response to cold IEP:RGD.
GO:0055093 P:response to hyperoxia IEP:RGD.
GO:0001666 P:response to hypoxia IMP:RGD.
GO:0009314 P:response to radiation IEP:RGD.
GO:0030431 P:sleep IDA:UniProtKB.
GO:0042088 P:T-helper 1 type immune response ISS:UniProtKB.
Back to Top
Interpro
IPR008996;    Cytokine_IL1-like.
IPR000975;    Interleukin_1.
IPR015529;    Interleukin_18.
Back to Top
Pfam
PF00340;    IL1;    1.
Back to Top
SMART
SM00125;    IL1;    1.
Back to Top
PROSITE
PRINTS
PR01933;    INTRLEUKIN18.;   
Back to Top
Created Date
18-Oct-2012 
Record Type
Experiment identified 
Protein sequence Annotation
PROPEP        1     36       By similarity.
                             /FTId=PRO_0000015349.
CHAIN        37    194       Interleukin-18.
                             /FTId=PRO_0000015350.
VAR_SEQ     121    139       Missing (in isoform Alpha).
                             /FTId=VSP_002659.
CONFLICT      4      5       MS -> IP (in Ref. 2; CAA11001 and 4;
                             AAL77211).
CONFLICT     48     48       I -> M (in Ref. 2; CAA11001 and 4;
                             AAL77211).
Back to Top
Nucleotide Sequence
Length: 722 bp   Go to nucleotide: FASTA
Protein Sequence
Length: 194 bp   Go to amino acid: FASTA
The verified Protein-Protein interaction information
UniProt
 Gene Symbol Ref Databases
Other Protein-Protein interaction resources
String database  
View Microarray data
Temporarily unavailable 
Comments