Used in immunological research to study the IL-18 signaling pathway, particularly in inflammation and immune response regulation. Serves as a soluble receptor to modulate IL-18 activity in cell-based assays and animal models. Employed in protein-protein interaction studies due to its fusion with the Fc tag, enabling easy detection and purification. Applied in therapeutic development for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammation including inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer immunotherapy by blocking or enhancing IL-18 mediated responses. The Fc tag allows for prolonged half-life and improved stability in experimental systems. Can also be used in developing assays to measure IL-18 levels or study its inhibition in disease models.