Interleukin 35

Interleukin 35 (IL-35) is an IL-12 family cytokine that is produced by regulatory, but not effector, T cells and plays a role in immune suppression. It is a dimeric protein composed of IL-12α and IL-27β chains, which are encoded by two separate genes called "IL12A" and "EBI3", respectively. Secreted by regulatory T cells (T_regs), IL-35 suppresses inflammatory responses of immune cells. Studies in mice show the absence of either IL-35 chain from regulatory T_regs reduces the cells' ability to suppress inflammation; this has been observed during cell culture experiments and using an experimental model for inflammatory bowel disease.cite journal |author=Collison LW, Workman CJ, Kuo TT, "et al" |title=The inhibitory cytokine IL-35 contributes to regulatory T-cell function |journal=Nature |volume=450 |issue=7169 |pages=566–9 |year=2007 |month=November |pmid=18033300 |doi=10.1038/nature06306 |url=] To produce its suppressive effects, IL-35 has selective activities on different T cell subsets; it induces proliferation of T_reg cell populations but reduces activity of T_h17 cell populations.cite journal |author=Niedbala W, Wei XQ, Cai B, "et al" |title=IL-35 is a novel cytokine with therapeutic effects against collagen-induced arthritis through the expansion of regulatory T cells and suppression of Th17 cells |journal=Eur. J. Immunol. |volume=37 |issue=11 |pages=3021–9 |year=2007 |month=November |pmid=17874423 |doi=10.1002/eji.200737810 |url=]

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