Entrez 10148 | Ensembl ENSG00000105246 | |
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Aliases EBI3, IL-27B, IL27B, Epstein-Barr virus induced 3 External IDs MGI: 1354171 HomoloGene: 4207 GeneCards: EBI3 | ||
Epstein-Barr virus induced gene 3, also known as interleukin-27 subunit beta or IL-27B, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the EBI3 gene.
Function
This gene was identified by the induction of its expression in B lymphocytes by Epstein-Barr virus infection. The protein encoded by this gene is a secreted glycoprotein, which is a member of the hematopoietin receptor family related to the p40 subunit of interleukin 12 (IL-12). It plays a role in regulating cell-mediated immune responses.
EBI3 is a subunit in 2 distinct heterodimeric cytokines: interleukin-27 (IL27) and IL35. IL27 is composed of p28 (IL27) and EBI3. IL27 can trigger signaling in T cells, B cells, and myeloid cells. IL35, an inhibitory cytokine involved in regulatory T-cell function, is composed of EBI3 and the p35 subunit of IL12.