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Updated: Aug 4, 2026

Generation of Induced Regulatory T Cells from Primary Human Naïve and Memory T Cells
Published on: April 16, 2012
IL-23: a cytokine that acts on memory T cells
1Laboratory of Cell Biology, Division of Monoclonal Antibodies, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. frucht@cber.fda.gov
The newly discovered cytokine interleukin (IL)-23 shares some in vivo functions with IL-12, including the activation of the transcription factor STAT4 (signal tranducer and activator of transcription-4). Indeed, the receptors for each appear to share one subunit, but also have at least one distinct subunit. Frucht discusses the similarities of IL-12 and IL-23 and the effects that distinguish one from the other. In contrast to IL-12, IL-23 appears to participate in the proliferative signal in memory T cells. More functions that distinguish IL-23 from IL-12 are likely to be uncovered as soon as the other component(s) of the IL-23 receptor are molecularly cloned and characterized.
The newly discovered cytokine interleukin (IL)-23 shares some in vivo functions with IL-12, including the activation of the transcription factor STAT4 (signal tranducer and activator of transcription-4). Indeed, the receptors for each appear to share one subunit, but also have at least one distinct subunit. Frucht discusses the similarities of IL-12 and IL-23 and the effects that distinguish one from the other. In contrast to IL-12, IL-23 appears to participate in the proliferative signal in memory T cells. More functions that distinguish IL-23 from IL-12 are likely to be uncovered as soon as the other component(s) of the IL-23 receptor are molecularly cloned and characterized.
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