The IL 12 Family: IL12, IL23 and IL27

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Mike Bartolatz
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The IL 12 Family: IL12, IL23 and IL27

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Induction of immunity and inflammation by interleukin-12 family members.Alber G, Al-Robaiy S, Kleinschek M, Knauer J, Krumbholz P, Richter J, Schoeneberger S, Schuetze N, Schulz S, Toepfer K, Voigtlaender R, Lehmann J, Mueller U.
Institute of Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Germany. alber@vetmed.uni-leipzig.de

The interleukin (IL)-12 family is composed of three heterodimeric cytokines, IL-12 (p40p35), IL-23 (p40p19), and IL-27 (EBI3p28), and of monomeric and homodimeric p40. This review focuses on the three heterodimeric members of the IL-12 family. The p40 and p40-like (EBI3) subunits have homology to the IL-6R, the other subunits (p35, p19, and p28) are homologous to each other and to members of the IL-6 superfamily. On the basis of their structural similarity, it was expected that the members of the IL-12 family have overlapping pro-inflammatory and immunoregulatory functions. However, it was surprising that they also show very distinct activities. IL- 12 has a central role as a Th1-inducing and -maintaining cytokine, which is essential in cell-mediated immunity in nonviral infections and in tumor control. IL-23 recently emerged as an end-stage effector cytokine responsible for autoimmune chronic inflammation through induction of IL-17 and direct activation of macrophages. Very recently, IL-27 was found to exert not only a pro-inflammatory Thl-enhancing but also a significant anti-inflammatory function.

PMID: 16329649 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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