Identification and functional analysis of a novel IL-6/IL-12 family cytokine

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K08433
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Experimental pathology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Xu Mingli 東京医科大学, 医学部, 客員講師 (80597964)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 善本 隆之 東京医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (80202406)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: EBI3 / p19 / heterodimeric cytokine

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the present study, we elucidated that Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3 (EBI3), a common subunit of IL-27 and IL-35, and p19, one of IL-23 subunits can form a functional heterodimeric cytokine. EBI3 was first revealed to associate with p19, and subsequently hydrodynamic injection of the expression vector of a single chain of EBI3/p19 into mice was shown to augment an antigen-specific production of cytokines such as IL-17 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in the draining lymph node cells. Then, transgenic mice over expressing the single chain of EBI3/p19 were established and exhibited resistance to the development of autoimmune hepatitis induced by injection with concanavalin A. Moreover, using a transplantable mouse tumor model of melanoma B16F10, EBI3/p19 was demonstrated to show potent antitumor activity. Currently, more detailed analysis on the molecular mechanism and its physiological role is under investigation.

Free Research Field

Immunology