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PMID: 12697453 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

Novel IL-12 family members shed light on the orchestration of Th1 responses.

Trends in immunology ·Vol. 24 ·No. 4 ·2003-04-00 ·Pages 207-12

Brombacher F, Kastelein RA, Alber G

Abstract

Interleukin-12 (IL-12), which is composed of a p35 and a p40 subunit, is a proinflammatory natural-killer (NK) cell-stimulating, Th1-inducing and Th1-maintaining cytokine, which promotes cell-mediated immunity. On activation, heterodimeric IL-12 is found in small amounts, whereas free p40 is produced in excess. Besides IL-12, other p40-dependent molecules exist that orchestrate Th1 responses. Homodimeric p40 can act as an IL-12 antagonist by competing for its receptor. Recent data also reveal potential immunostimulatory functions of p40. In addition, p40 can be covalently linked to a p35-related protein p19. This heterodimer is known as IL-23 and has activities on memory T cells. Finally, IL-27, the latest addition to this family, is a heterodimer composed of the p40-related protein EBI3 (Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3) and the p35-related protein p28. IL-27 is involved in early Th1 initiation.

MeSH Terms
Animals Communicable Diseases/immunology Humans Immunologic Memory Interleukin-12/immunology,metabolism Interleukin-23 Interleukin-23 Subunit p19 Interleukins/metabolism Th1 Cells/immunology
Chemicals
IL23A protein, human Interleukin-23 Interleukin-23 Subunit p19 Interleukins MYDGF protein, human Interleukin-12
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Brombacher Frank
University of Cape Town, Division of Immunology, Groote Schuur Hospital, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa.
Kastelein Robert A
Alber Gottfried
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Article Info
Journal
Trends in immunology
Abbr.
Trends Immunol
ISSN
1471-4906
DOI
10.1016/s1471-4906(03)00067-x
Published
2003-04-00
Pages
207-12
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
100966032
PMCID
PMC7141566
Subset
IM
Grants
Wellcome Trust · United Kingdom
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1016/s1471-4906(03)00067-x PMC Full Text View journal details
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