Interleukin 27 subunit alpha (IL-27-A) together with EBI3 (IL-27 subunit beta) forms the heterodimeric protein IL-27. Produced as an early product of antigen-presenting cells (APC), IL-27 plays a role in the adaptive immune response by promoting the clonal expansion of naive CD4
+ T cells. IL-27 can stimulate Tʜ1 differentiation and seems to be a potent inhibitor of Tʜ17 cell development and of IL-17 production. It has also been shown that IL-27 has the ability to induce CD8
+ -mediated tumor-specific protective immunity.
