IL-35 has been used to study its immunosuppressive effect on acute graft-versus-host disease in a mouse model.Ithas also been used to study its effects on the differentiation of granulocytemacrophage-colony-stimulating factor-producing T helper cells (ThGM). IL-35has been used to study its effects on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.
Regulatory T cells are essential for maintaining self tolerance and preventing autoimmunity, and IL-35 is identified as a molecule th at mediates the immune suppression function of Treg-cell. As an inhibitory cytokine, IL-35 induces proliferation of Treg-cell populations but suppresses Th17 cell development. Studies in mice show the absence of either IL-35 chain from Treg-cell reduces the cellsμ ability to suppress inflammation using an experimental model for inflammatory bowel disease. IL-35 is suggested as a potential target of immunotherapy.IL-35 is produced inresponse to agonists of toll-like receptors 3 and 4 (TLR 3 & 4) and interferon γ (IFN-γ). It is secreted mainly by activated B cells, CD4+ Foxp3+ regulatoryT cells (Tregs), and at a lower concentration by monocytes, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells.
