Page 2 - Y. Vascular biology
P. 2
[Y. Vascular biology-2]
Expression and function of an IL-12R type in the human
aortic smooth muscle cells
Heesu Lee¹, Sang Won Kang¹
¹Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea
Interleukin-12 receptor β2 (IL12Rbeta2) is a type of the Interleukin-12 (IL-12) receptors that forms heterodimer with
Interleukin-12 receptor β1 (IL12Rb1). IL-12 binding to the receptor induces the Th1 differentiation and interferon-
gamma (IFN-γ) production through STAT4. IL12Rbeta2 is known to be expressed in the immune cells, like T cell or
NK cell, but its expression in vascular cells is largely unknown. The proliferation and migration of Vascular Smooth
Muscle Cells (VSMCs) play an important role in the progression of atherosclerosis. We found that IL12Rbeta2
expression is induced by a balloon injury on carotid vessels. Moreover, the knock-down of IL-12Rbeta2 expression
resulted in a negative effect on vascular hyperplasia. In this study, we show that the expression of IL12Rbeta2 is
induced in the vascular smooth muscle cells treated with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Then, we identify the transcript
variant of IL12Rbeta2 in the VSMCs with single nucleotide alteration. Thus, the study suggests a novel role of
interleukin receptor in the non-immune cells.
