IL12 is a potent regulator of cell mediated immune responses and it induces IFN-gamma production by NK and T cells.
It is natually produced by activated monocytes/macrophage cells, B lymphocytes, and connective tissue type mast cells in response to antigenic stimulation. IL12 is involved in the differentiation of naive T cells into Th1 cells and can stimulate the growth and function of T cells. IL12 also plays an important role in the activities of natural killer cells and T lymphocytes. Recombinant Human IL12 is expressed in human 293 cells as
a heterodimeric cytokine composed of two glycosylated and disulfide-linked subunits (p40 cysteine-linked to p35) with a molecular mass of 57 kDa.