Interleukin-12 (IL-12)

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a heterodimeric, pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a central role in regulating immune responses. It is primarily produced by antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells, macrophages, and B lymphocytes in response to pathogens or immune stimuli. IL-12 consists of two covalently linked subunits: p35 and p40. The functional IL-12 receptor is composed of two subunits: IL‑12Rβ1 and IL‑12Rβ2. IL‑12 has several key immunological roles including inducing differentiation of naïve CD4+ T cells into Th1 effector cells, stimulating production of interferon-gamma (IFN‑γ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF‑α) from T and NK cells and enhancing cytotoxic activity of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), natural killer (NK) cells, and NKT-like LAK populations. Therapeutic interest includes cancer immunotherapy, but dysregulated or excessive production can contribute to autoimmune/inflammatory diseases.

Inhibition of IL-12/IL-23 pathway (for anti-p40 antibodies)