We previously demonstrated that interleukin (IL)-12 protected mice against fatal pulmonary infection with a highly virulent strain of Cryptococcus neoformans, which correlated well with the production of interferon (IFN)-gamma as well as IL-18 in the primary infected site.
IL-18 contributes to host resistance against infection with Cryptococcus neoformans in mice with defective IL-12 synthesis through induction of IFN-gamma production by NK cells.