Also known as interferon-gamma-inducing factor (IGIF) and IL-1γ, IL18 is a cytokine that bears structural similarities with members of the IL-1 family of proteins. IL18 is natively synthesized as a proform that gets processed by caspase-1 to generate the bioactive form of IL18. IL18 is one of the pro-inflammatory cytokines that is expressed by a variety of immune and non-immune cells. The activities of IL18 appear to be species specific. An important function of IL18 is the regulation of functionally distinct subsets of T-helper cells required for cell mediated immune responses. IL18 functions as a growth and differentiation factor for Th1 cells and is known to up-regulate the FAS ligand mediated cytotoxic activity of murine natural killer cells. IL18 also partakes in a complex regulatory circuit involved in causing cell death by apoptosis.
<1.0 EU/μg of recombinant protein as determined by the LAL method
Biological Activity Comment
The ED(50) as determined by the dose-dependent proliferation of human PBMC co-stimulated with IL12 was found to be in the range of 5.0 ng/mL.
Weight
18.5 kDa
Description
A quick spin of the vial followed by reconstitution in distilled water to a concentration not less than 0.1 mg/mL. This solution can then be diluted into other buffers.
Format
Lyophilized PowderLyophilized from 0.2 μm filtered solution in Tris buffer with NaCl
Purity
>95% as determined by SDS-PAGE
Storage
Upon reconstitution, this cytokine can be stored in working aliquots at 2° - 8°C for one month, or at -20°C for six months, with a carrier protein without detectable loss of activity.