Anti-IL-23 Antibody

Like interleukin-27 (IL-27), IL-23 is a recently discovered member of the IL-6/IL-12 family of proinflammatory and immunoregulatory cytokines. It exists as a heterodimer composed of the IL-12p40 subunit and a novel p19 subunit. IL-23 is secreted by activated dendritic cells, macrophages, and monocytes. Its biological activities include enhancing the proliferation of memory T cells and the production of IFN-gamma, IL-12, and TNF-α from activated T cells, and can stimulate macrophages to produce TNF-α and nitric oxide. It has also been shown to possess potent anti-tumor and anti-metastatic activity in mouse models of cancer, suggesting a potential role for IL-23 in therapeutic treatment of cancer.

Anti-IL-23 antibody was raised against a peptide corresponding to 17 amino acids near the amino terminus of human IL-23. The immunogen is located within amino acids 40 - 90 of IL-23.

Associates with IL12B to form the IL-23 interleukin, a heterodimeric cytokine which functions in innate and adaptive immunity. IL-23 may constitute with IL-17 an acute response to infection in peripheral tissues. IL-23 binds to a heterodimeric receptor complex composed of IL12RB1 and IL23R, activates the Jak- Stat signaling cascade, stimulates memory rather than naive T- cells and promotes production of proinflammatory cytokines. IL-23 induces autoimmune inflammation and thus may be responsible for autoimmune inflammatory diseases and may be important for tumorigenesis.