Recombinant Human IL-23R Fc Chimera Protein, CF

Interleukin 23 (IL-23) is a heterodimeric cytokine composed of two disulfide-linked subunits, a p19 subunit that is unique to IL-23, and a p40 subunit that is shared with IL-12 (1 - 5). The functional IL-23 receptor complex consists of two receptor subunits, the IL-12 receptor beta 1 subunit (IL-12 R beta1) and the IL-23-specific receptor subunit (IL-23 R) (3). Human IL-23 R cDNA encodes a 629 aa type I transmembrane protein with a 23 aa residue signal peptide, a 330 aa residue extracellular domain, a 23 aa residue transmembrane domain and a 253 aa residue cytoplasmic region. IL-23 R shares structural features with the IL-12 R beta2, including an N-terminal Ig-like domain, two cytokine receptor domains and multiple glycosylation sites in the extracellular domain. IL-23 R lacks the three extracellular membrane-proximal fibronectin-type III domains present on IL-12 R beta2. IL-23 R has a WQPWS sequence in the transmembrane-proximal cytokine receptor domain similar to the cytokine receptor signature WSXWS motif. The cytoplasmic region of IL-23 R has three potential Src homology 2 domain-binding sites and two potential Stat-binding sites. The gene for human IL-23 R is located on human chromosome 1 within 150 kb of IL-12 R beta2. Human and mouse IL-23 R share 66% amino acid sequence identity. Based on quantitative real-time PCR, human IL-23 R mRNA is expressed in a human Th1 and Th0 clone as well as several NK cell lines and clones. Low but detectable levels of IL-23 R mRNA is also expressed in EBV-transformed B cells and activated PBMC. IL-23 initiates a signal transduction cascade similar to that of IL-12, and involves Jak2, Tyk2, Stat1, Stat3, Stat4, and Stat5. IL-23 has biological activities that are similar to, but distinct from IL-12.