Interleukin-18 augments growth ability of primary human melanocytes by PTEN inactivation through the AKT/NF-κB pathway

► Interleukin-18 (IL-18) increases tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis. ► IL-18 activates NF-κB. ► IL-18 activates Akt and inhibits PTEN. ► IL-18 up-regulates the expression levels of p70 S6K and Bcl-2. ► IL-18 induces human primary melanocytes migration.