Authors: Hiroki Yoshida; Shinjiro Hamano; Yoshiyuki Miyazaki

Source: Current Immunology Reviews, Volume 1, Number 1, January 2005 , pp. 55-60(6)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Two heterodimeric cytokines, IL-23 and IL-27, were recently identified, which have structural and functional homology to IL-12. IL-27, composed of p28 plus Epstein Barr Virus-induced gene (EBI)-3, is a member of the IL-12 cytokine family. IL-27 is produced early after activation of antigen-presenting cells and induces proliferation of naïve CD4+ T cells upon antigen recognition. Stimulation of naïve CD4+ T cells with IL-27 through WSX-1, a subunit of functional IL-27 receptor complex, initiates the differentiation of CD4+ T cells into Th1 populations through induction of T-bet followed by expression of IL-12Rb2. IL-27 / WSX-1 thus is critical for proper induction of Th1 responses and lack of WSX-1 results in the impaired Th1 responses in mice. Recent studies revealed that L-27 / WSX-1 signaling also has an anti-inflammatory property. In some protozoan infection, various pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF- and IL-6, and even IFN-, were over produced, causing lethal inflammatory responses in WSX-1- / - mice. These data revealed that IL-27 / WSX-1 has a suppressive role for pro-inflammatory cytokine production and that IL-27 / WSX-1 may work to suppress and / or terminate immune responses and inflammation. Taken together, IL-27 / WSX-1 thus has double identity as an initiator and as an attenuator of immune responses and inflammation.

Keywords: wsx-1; inflammation; cytokine

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1573395052952923

Affiliations: 1: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Nabeshima 5-1-1, Saga, Saga, 849-8501, Japan.

Publication date: 2005-01-01

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• Current Immunology Reviews publishes frontier reviews on all the latest advances in clinical immunology. The journal's aim is to publish the highest quality review articles dedicated to clinical research in the field. The journal is essential reading for all researchers and clinicians in clinical immunology.

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