Summary
Background
This non-therapeutic biosimilar antibody uses the same variable regions from the therapeutic antibody Ustekinumab making it ideal for research use. This Ustekinumab biosimilar reacts with human p40 also known as IL-12β. p40 is a 40 kDa subunit of IL-12 and IL-23. IL-12 is a heterodimeric cytokine composed of subunits IL-12α p35 and IL-12β p40. The p40 subunit of IL-12 also combines with p19, a protein that shows no biological activity by itself, to form IL-23. IL-12 is secreted by activated monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells while IL-23 is secreted by activated dendritic cells and epithelial cells. IL-12 plays roles in T lymphocyte differentiation, IFNγ production, and NK cell cytotoxicity. The C17.8 antibody has been shown to neutralize both IL-12 and IL-23 bioactivity. Ustekinumab is used for the treatment of Crohn’s disease, plaque psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis.
