| CPC A61K 38/20 (2013.01) [C07K 14/54 (2013.01); A61K 35/17 (2013.01); A61K 35/768 (2013.01); A61K 38/1774 (2013.01); A61K 47/642 (2017.08); A61K 2300/00 (2013.01); A61P 35/00 (2018.01); C07K 14/70596 (2013.01); C07K 2319/02 (2013.01); C07K 2319/21 (2013.01); C07K 2319/35 (2013.01); C07K 2319/50 (2013.01); C12N 15/85 (2013.01)] | 5 Claims |

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1. A method of promoting interleukin-18 (IL-18) signaling activity in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a nucleic acid encoding a modified IL-18 polypeptide that specifically binds to the IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) and exhibits reduced binding to the IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) as compared to wild type (WT) IL-18 as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 30, wherein the modified IL-18 polypeptide comprises 90% or more sequence identity with WT IL-18 as set forth in SEQ ID NO:30 and at least four amino acid substitutions, relative to WT IL-18 as set forth in SEQ ID NO:30, at positions selected from: Methionine-51, Glutamine-56, Proline-57, Methionine-60, Glutamine-103, Serine-105, Aspartic acid-110, Asparagine-111, and Methionine-113.
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