Enables interleukin-27 receptor binding activity. Acts upstream of or within positive regulation of defense response to virus by host and regulation of T cell proliferation. Located in extracellular space. Is expressed in decidua; embryo; and extraembryonic component. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in asthma; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and pulmonary tuberculosis. Orthologous to human IL27 (interleukin 27). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]