As IL‐18 carries out its biological functions mainly through its receptor IL‐18R 24, and IL‐18BP is a potent endogenous neutralizing antagonist of IL‐18, it is very likely that the role of IL‐18 in atopic asthma is decided by the balance between IL‐18, IL‐18BP and IL‐18R. The gene discussed is IL18R1; the disease is atopic asthma.