The Pro‐ and Anti‐Inflammatory Potential of Interleukin‐12

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Abstract
T helper (Th) lymphocytes, upon activation and differential costimulation, differentiate into various types of Th memory cells with distinct functions. Upon activation in the presence of interleukin‐12 (IL‐12), Th1 memory cells are imprinted for the expression of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), by genetic modification of theifnγ gene and expression of the transcription factor T‐bet. Th1 cells are potent inducers of chronic inflammation of tissues expressing their cognate (auto)antigen. Here, we discuss an anti‐inflammatory potential of Th1 cells, based on their expression of IL‐10. While the expression of IFN‐γ in memory Th1 cells is independent of the original inducer IL‐12, IL‐12 is and remains required to induce expression of the regulatory cytokine IL‐10 by Th1 memory cells giving IL‐12 the potential to act anti‐inflammatory during secondary responses.

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