Description
Purity>95% SDS-PAGE.FunctionCytokine that can act as a growth factor for activated T and NK cells, enhance the lytic activity of NK/lymphokine-activated Killer cells, and stimulate the production of IFN-gamma by resting PBMC.BackgroundInterleukin-12 (IL-12) is a heterodimeric cytokine of 70 kDa(p70 protein) comprising two covalently linked subunits p35 (35 kDa) alpha (α) chain and the p40 (40 kDa) beta (β) chain. The p40 chain is overproduced relative to the p35 chain and forms homodimers that bind to the IL-12 receptor, competing with the bioactive p70 heterodimer for receptor occupancy and thereby serving as a receptor antagonist. IL-12 is predominantly produced by activated dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, and neutrophils during T-cell priming and acts directly on cytotoxic immune effector cells, including natural killer (NK) cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells, and CD8+ T cells, to stimulate their proliferation and increase their cytotoxic functions. IL-12 is widely accepted as an important regulator of Th1 responses. It also promotes the expansion and survival of activated T-cells and NK cells and modulates the cytotoxic activity of CTLs and NK cells. During the adaptive immune response, IL-12 primes antigen-specific T-cells for high IFN-g production (driving their differentiation toward the Th-1 pathway). IL-12 can also act as an adjuvant for humoral immunity by enhancing production of IgG2a and IgG2b antibodies. Recombinant human IL-12 is a 69-75kDa isodimer glycoprotein (total of 503 amino acid residues) composed of 35 kDa (p35) and 40 kDa (p40) subunits linked by disulfide bonds