Third, we present evidence that IL-18-deficiency and IL-18 neutralization both protect allergen-induced EoE, which supports previous findings that neutralization of iNKT cells has a critical role in allergen-induced EoE, as IL-18 activates iNKT cells to induce eosinophil growth and survival cytokines IL-5 and IL-1350. The gene discussed is IL18; the disease is eosinophilic esophagitis.