Interleukin-18 binding protein, also known as IL-18BP and tadekinig-alfa, is a secreted glycoprotein that contains an Ig-like C2-type domain. It is expressed in heart, lung, placenta and spleen. IL-18BP functions as an inhibitor of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-18. It binds to IL-18, prevents the binding of IL-18 to its receptor, and thus blocks IL-18-induced IFN-gamma production. The complete Ig domain has been shown to mediate the binding and neutralizing properties. IFN-gamma is able to upregulate the expression of IL-18BP, indicating that IL-18 activity is regulated by a feedback mechanism through IL-18BP.
