Interleukin-27(IL-27) is a heterodimeric cytokine belonging to the IL-12 family that is composed of two subunits; Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)-induced gene 3(EBI3)(also known as IL-27B) and IL27-p28(known as IL-30). IL-27 is produced by antigen-presenting cells. By genomic sequence analysis, the IL27 p28 gene was mapped to chromosome 16p11. L-27 plays an important function in regulating the activity of B- and T-lymphocytes. The effects of IL-27 are eliciting by its interaction with a specific cell-surface receptor complex composed of two proteins known as IL27R and gp130.
