IL12A

This gene encodes a subunit of a cytokine that acts on T and natural killer cells, and has a broad array of biological activities. The cytokine is a disulfide-linked heterodimer composed of the 35-kD subunit encoded by this gene, and a 40-kD subunit that is a member of the cytokine receptor family. This cytokine is required for the T-cell-independent induction of interferon (IFN)-gamma, and is important for the differentiation of both Th1 and Th2 cells. The responses of lymphocytes to this cytokine are mediated by the activator of transcription protein STAT4. Nitric oxide synthase 2A (NOS2A/NOS2) is found to be required for the signaling process of this cytokine in innate immunity. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

本基因编码一种细胞因子亚基，该细胞因子作用于T细胞和自然杀伤细胞，并具有广泛的生物学活性。该细胞因子由本基因编码的35-kD亚基和作为细胞因子受体家族成员的40-kD亚基组成的二硫键连接的异二聚体。此细胞因子对于T细胞非依赖性诱导干扰素（IFN）-gamma至关重要，并对于Th1和Th2细胞的分化具有重要意义。淋巴细胞对此细胞因子的反应由转录激活蛋白STAT4介导。研究发现，一氧化氮合酶2A（NOS2A/NOS2）对于该细胞因子在先天免疫中的信号转导过程是必需的。[由RefSeq提供，2008年7月]