IL 12 p40 Human
Greater than 95.0% as determined by SDS-PAGE.
Description
The IL-12 p40 His is purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques.
Product Specs
The purity is determined to be greater than 95.0% by SDS-PAGE analysis.
Product Science Overview
Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a cytokine that plays a crucial role in the immune system by influencing the activities of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. It is composed of two subunits: p35 and p40. The p40 subunit, also known as IL-12B, is a 40 kDa protein that forms a heterodimer with the p35 subunit to create the biologically active IL-12. The recombinant form of IL-12 p40 is produced using various expression systems and is used extensively in research to study its immunological functions and potential therapeutic applications.
Recombinant human IL-12 p40 is typically produced in bacterial or mammalian expression systems. One common method involves the use of Escherichia coli (E. coli) to express the protein. The gene encoding the IL-12 p40 subunit is inserted into a plasmid vector, which is then introduced into E. coli cells. These cells are cultured, and the protein is expressed and subsequently purified using techniques such as affinity chromatography .
Another method involves the use of insect cells, such as Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf21), which are infected with a baculovirus containing the IL-12 p40 gene. The protein is then harvested and purified from the cell culture supernatant .
IL-12 p40 is a critical component of the IL-12 cytokine, which has multiple effects on the immune system. It stimulates the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) by T cells and NK cells, promoting the differentiation of naive T cells into Th1 cells. This process is essential for the development of cell-mediated immunity, which is crucial for defending against intracellular pathogens .
IL-12 p40 also forms a part of another cytokine, IL-23, which is involved in the maintenance and expansion of Th17 cells. These cells play a role in the immune response against extracellular bacteria and fungi .
The overexpression of IL-12 p40 has been linked to various autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Elevated levels of IL-12 p40 have been observed in the central nervous system of MS patients, suggesting its involvement in the pathogenesis of the disease . Additionally, polymorphisms in the IL-12B gene have been associated with the severity of asthma in children .
Recombinant IL-12 p40 is widely used in immunological research to study its role in immune responses and its potential as a therapeutic target. It is used in various assays, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and Western blotting, to detect and quantify IL-12 p40 levels in biological samples .
