Cytokines & Chemokines

Mature mouse IL-2 shares 56% and 73% aa sequence identity with human and rat IL-2, respectively. It shows strain-specific heterogeneity in an N-terminal region that contains a poly-glutamine stretch. Mouse and human IL-2 exhibit cross-species activity. The receptor for IL-2 consists of three subunits that are present on the cell surface in varying preformed complexes. The 55 kDa IL-2 R alpha is specific for IL-2 and binds with low affinity. The 75 kDa IL-2 R beta, which is also a component of the IL-15 receptor, binds IL-2 with intermediate affinity. The 64 kDa common gamma chain gamma c/IL-2 R gamma, which is shared with the receptors for IL-4, -7, -9, -15, and -21, does not independently interact with IL-2. Upon ligand binding, signal transduction is performed by both IL-2 R beta and gamma c. It drives resting T cells to proliferate and induces IL-2 and IL-2 R alpha synthesis. It contributes to T cell homeostasis by promoting the Fas-induced death of naïve CD4+ T cells but not activa

Mature mouse IL-2 shares 56% and 73% aa sequence identity with human and rat IL-2, respectively. It shows strain-specific heterogeneity in an N-terminal region that contains a poly-glutamine stretch. Mouse and human IL-2 exhibit cross-species activity. The receptor for IL-2 consists of three subunits that are present on the cell surface in varying preformed complexes. The 55 kDa IL-2 R alpha is specific for IL-2 and binds with low affinity. The 75 kDa IL-2 R beta, which is also a component of the IL-15 receptor, binds IL-2 with intermediate affinity. The 64 kDa common gamma chain gamma c/IL-2 R gamma, which is shared with the receptors for IL-4, -7, -9, -15, and -21, does not independently interact with IL-2. Upon ligand binding, signal transduction is performed by both IL-2 R beta and gamma c. It drives resting T cells to proliferate and induces IL-2 and IL-2 R alpha synthesis. It contributes to T cell homeostasis by promoting the Fas-induced death of naïve CD4+ T cells but not activa

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), also known as BSF-2, CDF and IFNB2, is a pleiotropic cytokine that participates in both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses. It is produced mainly by T cells, macrophages, monocytes, endothelial cells and muscle cells. IL-6 binds to IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) to trigger the association of IL-6R with gp130, inducing signal transduction through JAKs and STATs. The biological functions of IL-6 are diverse. It stimulates B cell differentiation and antibody production, myeloma and plasmacytoma growth, and nerve cell differentiation. It also acts as a myokine, produced by muscle cells in response to muscle contraction and released into the blood stream to help break down fats and improve insulin resistance.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), also known as BSF-2, CDF and IFNB2, is a pleiotropic cytokine that participates in both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses. It is produced mainly by T cells, macrophages, monocytes, endothelial cells and muscle cells. IL-6 binds to IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) to trigger the association of IL-6R with gp130, inducing signal transduction through JAKs and STATs. The biological functions of IL-6 are diverse. It stimulates B cell differentiation and antibody production, myeloma and plasmacytoma growth, and nerve cell differentiation. It also acts as a myokine, produced by muscle cells in response to muscle contraction and released into the blood stream to help break down fats and improve insulin resistance.

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a proinflammatory cytokine that belongs to the IL-1 family. IL-33 is expressed in a variety of cells, including epithelial and endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, macrophages and fibroblasts. The primary receptors for IL-33 are ST2 and IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-1RAcP), both of which belong to the IL-1 receptor family. IL-33 is localized to the nucleus of resting cells where it binds to chromatin in the H2A-H2B histone complex as a transcriptional suppressor. IL-33 is secreted by cells during injury which induces a T-helper 2 type inflammatory response. Evidence suggests IL-33 plays a role in autoimmune disease. IL-33’s interaction with ST2 can drive allergic pathology and IL-33 has been reported to play a role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a proinflammatory cytokine that belongs to the IL-1 family. IL-33 is expressed in a variety of cells, including epithelial and endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, macrophages and fibroblasts. The primary receptors for IL-33 are ST2 and IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-1RAcP), both of which belong to the IL-1 receptor family. IL-33 is localized to the nucleus of resting cells where it binds to chromatin in the H2A-H2B histone complex as a transcriptional suppressor. IL-33 is secreted by cells during injury which induces a T-helper 2 type inflammatory response. Evidence suggests IL-33 plays a role in autoimmune disease. IL-33’s interaction with ST2 can drive allergic pathology and IL-33 has been reported to play a role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is produced by neutrophils, activated lymphocytes, macrophages, NK cells, LAK cells, astrocytes endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and some transformed cells. Mouse TNF-α occurs as a membrane-anchored form. The naturally-occurring form of TNF-α is glycosylated, but non-glycosylated recombinant TNF-α has comparable biological activity. The biologically active native form of TNF-α is reportedly a trimer. Human and mouse TNF-α show approximately 79% homology at the amino acid level and crossreactivity between the two species.

VEGF was initially purified from media conditioned by normal bovine pituitary folliculo-stellate cells and by a variety of transformed cell lines as a mitogen specific for vascular endothelial cells. It was subsequently found to be identical to an independently discovered vascular permeability factor (VPF), which was previously identified in media conditioned by tumor cell lines based on its ability to increase the permeability of capillary blood vessels. Three mouse cDNA clones, which arise through alternative splicing and which encode mature mouse monomeric VEGF having 120, 164, or 188, amino acids, respectively, have been identified. Two receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), Flt-1 and Flk-1 (the mouse homologue of human KDR), both members of the type III subclass of RTKs containing seven immunoglobulin-like repeats in their extracellular domains, have been shown to bind VEGF with high affinity. The roles of the homodimers of KDR, Flt, and the heterodimer ofKDR/Flt in VEGF signal transdu

VEGF was initially purified from media conditioned by normal bovine pituitary folliculo-stellate cells and by a variety of transformed cell lines as a mitogen specific for vascular endothelial cells. It was subsequently found to be identical to an independently discovered vascular permeability factor (VPF), which was previously identified in media conditioned by tumor cell lines based on its ability to increase the permeability of capillary blood vessels. Three mouse cDNA clones, which arise through alternative splicing and which encode mature mouse monomeric VEGF having 120, 164, or 188, amino acids, respectively, have been identified. Two receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), Flt-1 and Flk-1 (the mouse homologue of human KDR), both members of the type III subclass of RTKs containing seven immunoglobulin-like repeats in their extracellular domains, have been shown to bind VEGF with high affinity. The roles of the homodimers of KDR, Flt, and the heterodimer ofKDR/Flt in VEGF signal transdu