Invivo anti-Mouse IL-12 p40 Reconbinant mAb

IL-12 p40 (also known as IL-12B) is the critical subunit that constitutes the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-12 (p70) and IL-23, and is induced upon pathogen stimulation in antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells and macrophages. Structurally, p40 itself belongs to the type I cytokine receptor family, with its extracellular region containing an N-terminal immunoglobulin-like domain and two fibronectin type III domains, enabling it to either covalently link with the p35 subunit via a disulfide bond to form bioactive IL-12 (p70), or associate with the p19 subunit to constitute IL-23. Functionally, within IL-12, p40 binds to the IL-12Rβ1 and IL-12Rβ2 receptors on T cells and NK cells, activating the STAT4 signaling pathway, which in turn induces IFN-γ production and promotes Th1-type immune responses, playing a central role in defending against intracellular pathogens. Within IL-23, p40 forms a receptor complex with IL-23R and IL-12Rβ1, driving Th17 cell differentiation and IL-17 secretion. Notably, p40 can also be secreted as free monomers or homodimers, potentially serving as an antagonist of IL-12 signaling to exert regulatory functions. Precisely because p40 is the shared subunit of both IL-12 and IL-23—two key inflammatory pathways—monoclonal antibodies targeting p40 (such as ustekinumab) have been successfully developed for the treatment of autoimmune diseases like psoriasis and Crohn's disease, achieving suppression of aberrant immune responses by simultaneously blocking both pathways.