NKSF2: IL-12B; Cytotoxic lymphocyte maturation factor 40 kDa subunit; CLMF p40; IL-12 subunit p40; NK cell stimulatory factor chain 2; NKSF2

Cytokine that can act as a growth factor for activated T and NK cells, enhance the lytic activity of NK/lymphokine-activated killer cells, and stimulate the production of IFN-gamma by resting PBMC. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:11114383}.; Associates with IL23A 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 pro-inflammatory cytokines. IL-23 induces autoimmune inflammation and thus may be responsible for autoimmune inflammatory diseases and may be important for tumorigenesis. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:11114383}.