IL-35 Receptor

The interleukin-35 receptor refers to the unusual receptor complexes through which the Treg-derived IL-12 family cytokine IL-35 transmits its suppressive signal. Unlike the canonical IL-12 and IL-23 receptors, IL-35 does not use a dedicated private subunit: it signals via two heterodimeric combinations-IL-12Rβ2 paired with gp130 (CD130), or IL-12Rβ2 paired with IL-12Rβ1-which are shared with other IL-12 family members. Ligand binding activates JAK1/JAK2 and TYK2, and uniquely drives the formation of STAT1-STAT4 and STAT1-STAT3 heterodimers (rather than STAT homodimers), which bind atypical GAS sites in target genes. This distinctive signaling architecture underlies IL-35's ability to suppress T-cell proliferation, blunt Th17 differentiation, and expand IL-35-producing induced regulatory T cells (iTr35). The composition of the IL-35 receptor differs between cell types, explaining tissue-specific responsiveness to IL-35 in autoimmunity, infection and cancer.