Purity
> 95% by SDS-PAGE analyses.
> 98% by HPLC analyses.
Molecular Weight
Approximately 18.2 kDa, a single non-glycosylated polypeptide chain containing 157 amino acids.
Sequence
YFGKLESKLS VIRNLNDQVL FIDQGNRPLF EDMTDSDCRD NAPRTIFIIS MYKDSQPRGM AVTISVKCEK ISTLSCENKI ISFKEMNPPD NIKDTKSDII FFQRSVPGHD NKMQFESSSY EGYFLACEKE RDLFKLILKK EDELGDRSIM FTVQNED
Biological Activity
> 3.0 × 106 U/mg
Appearance
Sterile filtered white lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder.
Formulation
Lyophilized from a 0.2 μm filtered solution in PBS, 0.05% Tween-20, pH 7.0.
Storage
Store at -15℃ to -20℃
Shipping
The product is shipped with polar packs.
Endotoxin
Less than 0.01 EU/μg
Host Cell Protein
Less than 0.05%
Host Cell DNA
Less than 20 ng/mg
Reconstitution
Prior to opening, it is recommended to centrifuge the vial briefly to bring the contents down the bottom. Reconstitute in sterile distilled water or aqueous buffer containing 0.1% BSA to a concentration of 0.1-0.3 mg/mL. If animal-origin-free condition is expected in your product, then sterile distilled water is recommended. Stock solutions should be apportioned into working aliquots and stored at ≤ -20 °C. Further dilutions should be made in appropriate buffered solutions.
Usage
For research or further manufacturing use only, not for direct human use.
In Vitro Virus Assay
Negative
Background
Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine in the IL-1 family that exerts distinct immune effects depending on the local cytokine environment. It is expressed as a 24 kDa precursor by endothelial and epithelial cells, keratinocytes, gamma δ T cells, and phagocytes. The precursor is activated intracellularly by Caspase-1 mediated proteolysis to release the 17 kDa mature cytokine. The precursor can also be released by necrotic cells for extracellular cleavage by multiple proteases. IL-18 activation is induced by infection or tissue damage and contributes to disease pathology in chronic inflammation. IL-18 binds to the widely expressedIL-18 R alpha which recruits IL-18 R beta to form the signaling receptor complex. Its bioactivity is negatively regulated by interactions with IL-18 binding proteins and virally encoded IL-18BP homologs. In the presence of IL-12 or IL-15, IL-18 enhances anti-viral Th1 immune responses by inducing IFN-gamma production and the cytolytic activity of CD8+ T cells and NK cells. In the absence of IL-12 or IL-15, however, IL-18 promotes production of the Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 by CD4+ T cells and basophils. In the presence of IL-1 beta or IL-23, IL-18 induces the antigen-independent production of IL-17 by gamma δ T cells and CD4+ T cells. IL-18 also promotes myeloid dendritic cell maturation and triggers neutrophil respiratory burst. In cancer, IL-18 exhibits diverse activities including enhancing anti-tumor immunity, inhibiting or promoting angiogenesis, and promoting tumor cell metastasis. Mature human IL-18 shares approximately 63% amino acid sequence identity with mouse and rat IL-18. Alternative splicing in human ovarian cancer generates an isoform that is resistant to Caspase-1 activation. A cell surface form can be expressed on M-CSF induced macrophages and released in response to bacterial endotoxin.