A Pivotal Role for Interleukin-27 in CD8⁺ T Cell Functions and Generation of Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes

Figure 3

IL-27 plays a pivotal role in CD8⁺ T cell functions and generation of CTLs. In naive CD8⁺ T cells, IL-27 activates STAT1 and induces expression of T-bet and EOMES, which are critical transcriptional factors for generation of CTL by transcriptionally up-regulating IFN-𝛾 and effector molecules such as perforin and granzyme B. IL-27 also induces not only proliferation but also SOCS3 expression to limit the excessive proliferation mediated through gp130 of IL-27R.