Interleukin 12 (IL-12) is a heterodimeric proinflammatory cytokine and a modulator of cell-mediated immunity, which is mainly produced by macrophages, dendritic cells, and B cells. IL-12 stimulates the production and secretion of several cytokines, in particular IFN-γ, by NK cells and T cells, induces proliferation, and enhances the cytotoxic activity within these cell populations. Another important activity of IL-12, acting together with IFN-γ and IL-2, is to drive T helper cell responses toward the T
H 1 rather than the T
H 2 phenotype. Moreover, IL-12 is also important in resistance to viral disease and has significant antitumor activity. It has been shown that single chain fusion proteins of naturally occurring heterodimeric cytokines such as IL-12 or IL-23 are bioactive
in vitro and
in vivo .
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