IL18 and endothelial dysfunction: Interleukin-18 (IL-18), of the cytokine family, is a proinflammatory cytokine which is expressed mainly by macrophages and acts on its receptor on the membrane of endothelial cells, lymphocytes, smooth muscle cells (all components of the atherosclerotic plaque) and induces Interferongamma (IFN-γ) production, endothelial dysfunction and plaque instability [6, 7].