Interleukin-23 Mouse ELISA

Research topic

Cytokines and chemokines and related molecules, Animal studies

Summary

Interleukin-23 was found during a genome scan for the IL-6/IL-12 cytokine family. IL-23 protein is a heterodimer, sharing a p40 subunit with IL-12, but having a distinct p19 subunit, which is IL-23 specific. IL-23 uses many of the same signal-transduction components as IL-12, so it binds to IL-12Rβ1 receptor, but not IL-12Rβ2.
IL-23 plays a role in type 1-polarized T-cell immune responses. Although IL-12 strongly activates naïve T-cells, the initial description of IL-23 reported preferential actions on memory T-cells to increase IFN-γ production and proliferation suggesting an important role for IL-23 in controlling bacterial infections. IL-23 has further been described as a key cytokine controlling inflammation in peripheral tissues. Overexpression of p19 correlates with inflammation in multiple organs and epithelial tissues including skin. IL-23 was shown to be involved in inflammation of the nervous system and autoimmune diseases.