STAT4 and prostatitis: IL-12 is a heterodimeric molecule composed of p35 and p40 subunits.[35] Its binding to the IL-12 receptor activates the JAK-STAT4 pathway, which further stimulates the activation of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and NK cells.[36] MR analysis indicates that IL-12B acts as an inhibitory factor for prostatitis, likely due to its role in inducing the differentiation of CD4+ T cells into Th1 and Th17 effector cells,[37] as well as enhancing NK cell activity.