Interleukin-18 (or interferon-gamma inducing factor) is a proinflammatory cytokine that induces cell-mediated immunity following microbial infection. This gene encodes a member of the interleukin-1 receptor family. The encoded protein is an accessory subunit of the receptor for interleukin-18 and mediates signaling through this cytokine. Mice lacking this gene exhibit a defective cell-mediated immune response. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2014]