SDS
Sheep Interleukin 12 ELISA kit
Catalog #: E14I0033
Sample Type: Biological samples

 

Other Names

IL12, p40  

Research Area

Immunology, Cardiovascular, Cancer

Background

Interleukin 12 (IL-12) and Interleukin 23 (IL-23) are secreted heterodimeric glycoproteins that belong to the IL-12 cytokine family. These two cytokines share a common p40 (40 kDa) subunit, which is disulfide-linked with a p35 (35 kDa) subunit in IL-12, and a p19 (19 kDa) subunit in IL-23. Besides being secreted as a component of IL-12 or IL-23, free p40 monomers and homodimers are also produced. Mammalian cells known to express p40 include macrophages, dendritic cells, monocytes, Langerhans cells, neutrophils, keratinocytes, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and microglia. From cells that express both the p40 and the IL-12-specific p35 subunit, the amount of free p40 produced is 10-1000-fold higher than the amount of heterodimeric IL-12 produced. IL-12 and IL-23 are important immunoregulatory molecules. They share overlapping but distinct biological activities which promote cell-mediated immunity. These activities are mediated by the IL-12 and IL-23 receptor complexes that have a common IL-12 receptor beta 1 subunit (IL-12 Rβ1) partnered with a cytokine-specific IL-12 Rβ2 and IL-23 R subunit, respectively. Both monomeric and dimeric free p40 can bind IL-12 Rβ1, but not IL-12 Rβ2 or IL-23 R, and may function as IL-12/IL-23 antagonist. Monomeric p40 binds IL-12 Rβ1 with lower affinity than dimeric p40 and is a less potent antagonist in rodent studies. Agonistic activities for mouse homodimeric p40 similar to that of heterodimeric IL-12 have also been described, including the induction of nitric oxide expression and NFκB activation in mouse primary microglia and peritoneal macrophages. The molecular mechanism for the agonistic effects of homodimeric p40 has not been determined. While porcine p40 self-associates into homodimers, it has not been determined if porcine p40 shows any of the above effects.