Mouse IL-34 is synthesized as a 235 amino acid precursor, which includes a 20 amino acid signal sequence and a 215 amino acid mature chain . The mature protein has a predicted molecular mass of approximately 25.4 kDa, but it typically appears as a 35-40 kDa band under reducing conditions in SDS-PAGE due to glycosylation . The protein is noncovalently linked as a homodimer .
IL-34 promotes the differentiation and viability of monocytes and macrophages through its interaction with CSF-1R. It shares structural homology with macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and induces myeloid cell expansion and differentiation in a manner similar to other colony-stimulating factors such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) . IL-34 is involved in the development of various myeloid compartments, including dendritic cells, monocytes, Langerhans cells, and microglia .
IL-34 is expressed by several different tissues in response to inflammatory stimuli. It is particularly important in the bone marrow, where it plays a role in hematopoietic differentiation by inducing colony-forming units of macrophages and promoting osteoclast differentiation, adhesion, and proliferation .
Recombinant mouse IL-34 is produced in various expression systems, including yeast and mammalian cells. The recombinant protein is typically purified to a high degree of purity (>95%) and is tested for biological activity in appropriate bioassays . It is available in both carrier-free and carrier-containing formulations, with the latter often including bovine serum albumin (BSA) to enhance protein stability and shelf-life .