| Background |
Interleukin-18 (IL-18) belongs to the IL-1 superfamily and is constitutively produced by macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs) and other cells. IL-18 binds to the receptor of IL-18 (IL-18R) and initiate the recruitment and heterodimerization of the IL-18RAcP, leading to downstream activation of NF-κB. After stimulation with IL-18, multiple cytokines including IFN-γ, IL-13, IL-4, IL-8, and GM-CSF and both Th1 and Th2 lymphokines could be produced by different cells. As an immunoregulaory cytokine, IL-18 can promote development of T helper 1 (Th1) cells, which maximizes the production of IFN by synergistically stimulating to mature Th1 effectors in combination with IL-12. On the contrary, it inhibits the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. In addition, IL-18 exhibits multiple proinflammatory functions, such as increases in cell adhesion molecules, nitric oxide synthesis, and chemokine production. |
| Synonyms |
interleukin 18, IGIF, IL-1g, IL1F4, IL18 |
| Uniprot ID |
Q14116 |
| Molecular Weight |
The protein has a calculated MW of 18.2 kDa.
The protein migrates as 15 kDa under reducing condition (SDS-PAGE analysis). |
| Expression System |
Escherichia coli |
| Purity |
>97% as determined by SDS-PAGE analysis. |
| Activity |
Measure by its ability to induce IFN gamma secretion in KG-1 cells. The ED₅₀ for this effect is <6 ng/mL. |
| Endotoxin Level |
<0.05 EU per 1 μg of the protein by the LAL method. |
| Protein Sequence |
YFGKLESKLSVIRNLNDQVLFIDQGNRPLFEDMTDSDCRDNAPRTIFIISMYKDSQPRGMAVTISVKCEKISTLSCENKIISFKEMNPPDNIKDTKSDIIFFQRSVPGHDNKMQFESSSYEGYFLACEKERDLFKLILKKEDELGDRSIMFTVQNED |
| Protein Tag |
Tag Free |
| Form |
Lyophilized from a 0.2 µm filtered solution of PBS, pH 7.4. |
| Application |
Cell Culture |
No references are available
