FIGURE 7.

Hepatic response to insult regulated by IL-18, IL-1RA. Levels of IFN-γ, and by extension the strength of the IFN-γ-driven positive feedback loop of hepatic damage, are connected in three pathways to the early, NLRP3-driven hepatic response to insult. One of these pathways can be downregulated by IL-1RA (C), one can be upregulated by IL-18 (A), and one can be both downregulated by IL-1RA and upregulated by IL-18 (B). Thus, the relative balance of these two mediators may control the level of response.