Genetic variations in the interleukin-12/interleukin-23 receptor (β1) chain, and implications for IL-12 and IL-23 receptor structure and function

Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) plays an essential role in human host defense against intracellular bacteria. Type-1 cytokines, particularly gamma interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-12 (IL-12), and IL-23, the major cytokines that regulate IFN-γ production, are essential in CMI. This is illustrated by patients with unusual severe infections caused by poorly pathogenic mycobacteria and Salmonella species, in whom genetic deficiencies have been identified in several key genes in the type-1 cytokine pathway, including IL12RB1, the gene encoding the β1 chain of the IL-12 and IL-23 receptors. Several mutations in IL12RB1 with deleterious effects on human IL-12R function have been identified, including nonsense and missense mutations. In addition, a number of coding IL12RB1 polymorphisms have been reported. In order to gain more insight into the effect that IL12RB1 mutations and genetic variations can have on IL-12Rβ1 function, three approaches have been followed. First, we determined the degree of conservation at the variant amino acid positions in IL-12Rβ1 between different species, using known deleterious mutations, known variations in IL-12Rβ1, as well as novel coding variations that we have identified at position S74R and R156H. Second, we analyzed the potential impact of these amino acid variations on the three-dimensional structure of the IL-12Rβ1 protein. Third, we analyzed the putative functions of different IL-12Rβ1 domains, partly based on their homology with gp130, and analyzed the possible effects of the above amino acid variations on the function of these domains. Based on these analyses, we propose an integrated model of IL-12Rβ1 structure and function. This significantly enhances our molecular understanding of the human IL-12 and IL-23 systems.