The role of interleukin 12 in the immune response, disease and therapy

Abstract

The heterodimeric cytokine interleukin 12 (IL-12) stimulates cytotoxicity and cytokine production by T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, and initiates development of CD4+ T helper 1 (Th1) cells. A recent meeting defined how IL-12 contributes to immune responses in disease, as well as how IL-12 can be used to circumvent disease.