IFNA1 Human

IFN-α1 is a protein composed of 166 amino acids, with a molecular weight of approximately 19.3 kDa . It is produced by leukocytes (white blood cells) and is encoded by the IFNA1 gene located on chromosome 9 . The recombinant form of IFN-α1 is typically produced in E. coli .

IFN-α1 exerts its effects by binding to a specific cell surface receptor composed of two subunits: IFN-alpha R2 (a 100 kDa ligand-binding subunit) and IFN-alpha R1 (a 125 kDa ligand-binding and signal transduction subunit) . This binding initiates a cascade of intracellular signaling events that lead to the expression of various antiviral and immunomodulatory genes .

1. Antiviral Activity: IFN-α1 inhibits viral replication within host cells by inducing the expression of antiviral proteins .
2. Antiproliferative Activity: It can inhibit the proliferation of various cell types, including tumor cells .
3. Immunomodulatory Activity: IFN-α1 modulates the immune response by enhancing the activity of natural killer (NK) cells and increasing the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules .

Recombinant IFN-α1 has been used in the treatment of various viral infections and cancers. It is particularly effective against hepatitis B and C, as well as certain types of leukemia and lymphoma .

Recombinant IFN-α1 is typically stored at -20 to -70°C to maintain its stability. It is important to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles to preserve its biological activity .