1. Academic Validation
  2. IL-27, a heterodimeric cytokine composed of EBI3 and p28 protein, induces proliferation of naive CD4+ T cells

IL-27, a heterodimeric cytokine composed of EBI3 and p28 protein, induces proliferation of naive CD4+ T cells

  • Immunity. 2002 Jun;16(6):779-90. doi: 10.1016/s1074-7613(02)00324-2.
Stefan Pflanz 1 Jackie C Timans Jeanne Cheung Rency Rosales Holger Kanzler Jonathan Gilbert Linda Hibbert Tatyana Churakova Marilyn Travis Elena Vaisberg Wendy M Blumenschein Jeanine D Mattson Janet L Wagner Wayne To Sandra Zurawski Terrill K McClanahan Daniel M Gorman J Fernando Bazan Rene de Waal Malefyt Donna Rennick Robert A Kastelein
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 DNAX Research Institute, 901 California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
Abstract

An efficient Th1-driven adaptive immune response requires activation of the T cell receptor and secretion of the T cell stimulatory cytokine IL-12 by activated antigen-presenting cells. IL-12 triggers Th1 polarization of naive CD4(+) T cells and secretion of IFN-gamma. We describe a new heterodimeric cytokine termed IL-27 that consists of EBI3, an IL-12p40-related protein, and p28, a newly discovered IL-12p35-related polypeptide. IL-27 is an early product of activated antigen-presenting cells and drives rapid clonal expansion of naive but not memory CD4(+) T cells. It also strongly synergizes with IL-12 to trigger IFN-gamma production of naive CD4(+) T cells. IL-27 mediates its biologic effects through the orphan cytokine receptor WSX-1/TCCR.

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