[Biological properties and clinical significance of interleukins 12 (IL-12)]
- PMID: 9857673
[Biological properties and clinical significance of interleukins 12 (IL-12)]
Abstract
IL-12 is a heterodimeric cytokine composed of 2 disulfide-linked subunits with molecular masses of 40 and 35 kDa, respectively. The cytokine is produced by phagocytic cells, professional antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells, skin Langerhans cells and B cells. IL-12 production is induced by bacteria, intracellular pathogens, fungi, viruses, or their products in a T-cell-independent pathway or a T-cell-dependent pathway, the latter mediated through CD40 ligand-CD40 interaction. Interleukin 12 induces interferon gamma secretion by T cells and natural killer cells, enhances the proliferation of activated T cells and natural killer cells, augments the cytolytic activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells, and supports the differentiation of Th1 helper effector cells. The therapeutic potential of these activities is suggested by studies in tumor and microbial models. IL-12 has suppressed tumor growth in all murine models examined. Antimicrobial activity has been demonstrated in bacterial, parasitic, and viral models of infection. The cytokine also stimulates in vitro antitumor activity of lymphocytes from patients with cancer. Current data indicate that CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, natural killer cells and interferon-gamma may contribute to the antitumor effects of interleukin-12 therapy. Clinical trials are being initiated to evaluate the possible therapeutic uses of IL-12 in the treatment of neoplastic diseases and some infections.
Similar articles
-
Interleukin 12: Basic Biology and Potential Applications in Cancer Treatment.Oncologist. 1996;1(1 & 2):88-97. Oncologist. 1996. PMID: 10387973
-
Interleukin 12: a key modulator of immune function.Stem Cells. 1994 Mar;12(2):154-68. doi: 10.1002/stem.5530120203. Stem Cells. 1994. PMID: 7911046 Review.
-
Interferon-gamma: biologic functions and HCV therapy (type I/II) (1 of 2 parts).Clin Ter. 2006 Jul-Aug;157(4):377-86. Clin Ter. 2006. Retraction in: Clin Ter. 2008 May-Jun;159(3):207. PMID: 17051976 Retracted. Review.
-
Interleukin-12: an immunoregulatory cytokine produced by B cells and antigen-presenting cells.Methods. 1997 Jan;11(1):116-27. doi: 10.1006/meth.1996.0395. Methods. 1997. PMID: 8990097
-
Rapid generation of potent and tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes by interleukin 18 using dendritic cells and natural killer cells.Cancer Res. 2000 Sep 1;60(17):4838-44. Cancer Res. 2000. PMID: 10987295
Cited by
-
The Influences of Cell Type and ZnO Nanoparticle Size on Immune Cell Cytotoxicity and Cytokine Induction.Nanoscale Res Lett. 2009 Sep 16;4(12):1409-20. doi: 10.1007/s11671-009-9413-8. Nanoscale Res Lett. 2009. PMID: 20652105 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Other Literature Sources
Research Materials