Description
Interleukin-27 is related to IL-12A and is a subunit of a heterodimeric cytokine complex. IL-27 interacts with EBV induced gene 3 also called EBI3, and forms a complex that drives rapid expansion of CD4 (+) T cells. IL-27 complex synergizes with IL-12 in order to trigger the IFN- gamma production of of CD4(+) T cells. The biological effect of IL-27 is mediated by class-I cytokine receptor (WSX1/TCRR). The pro-inflammatory activity of IL-27 is mediated through the growing expression of key molecules involved in the MHC class-I & MHC class-II pathways. Both MHC class-I and MHC-class-II expression are increased in endothelial cells after Interleukin-27 stimulation suggesting that it may play an important role in conferring the immune function on vascular endothelium. The IL-27 (p28) subunit can be induced by IFN-beta and during LPS- induced maturation of dendritic cells in an type-I IFN-dependent manner through IFN regulatory factor-1 activation. Interleukin-27 regulates Interleukin-12 responsiveness of CD4+ T cells through Stat1-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Interleukin-27 possesses potent anti- angiogenic activity that plays an important role in its antitumor and antimetastatic activities and it is a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 replication in macrophages, CD4+ T cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells. It also triggers STAT activation and gene transcription. Recombinant mouse IL-27 produced in E. coli is a single, non-glycosylated polypeptide chain of 207 amino acids having a molecular mass of 23.7 kDa. It has been purified by using proprietary chromatographic techniques