Description
Subunit beta of interleukin 12 (also known as natural killer cell stimulatory factor 2, or cytotoxic lymphocyte maturation factor 2, p40) (human gene name IL12B) is a subunit of human interleukin 12. This gene encodes a subunit of interleukin 12, a cytokine that acts on T and natural killer cells, and has a broad array of biological activities. Interleukin 12 is a disulfide-linked heterodimer composed of the 40 kD cytokine receptor like subunit encoded by this gene, and a 35 kD subunit encoded by IL12A. This cytokine is expressed by activated macrophages that serve as an essential inducer of Th1 cells development