title: Interleukin-12. Biologic activity, therapeutic utility, and role in disease.
abstract: IL-12 is a heterodimeric cytokine that promotes cell-mediated immunity through its regulatory effects on T and NK cells. In some murine infectious disease models, IL-12 was shown to be produced endogenously in response to infection, and the exogenous administration of IL-12 to mice with either infectious diseases or tumors has resulted in significant therapeutic effects. IL-12 was protective early in the disease process, as well as against established disease. However, the biologic activities of IL-12 that are beneficial in the host response to these infectious diseases and malignancies can also be deleterious in certain disease states. Thus, IL-12 has considerable potential for the treatment of a variety of human disorders if used under the appropriate conditions. Likewise, antagonists of IL-12 may have a role in controlling diseases with pathologies that are mediated through immune mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc., Nutley, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hendrzak
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brunda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008967:Molecular Biology; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D018664:Interleukin-12