Cytokines & Chemokines

Interleukin-3 (IL-3) is a potent growth promoting cytokine. IL-3 can stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells as well as various lineage committed progenitors. IL-3 exerts its biological function through binding to specific cell surface receptors. The amino acid sequences of this protein among different species share relatively low identity and its activity is highly species-specific. IL-3 has also been shown to possess neurotrophic activity; and is thought to be associated with neurologic disorders.

Interleukin 12 (IL-12) is the founding member of the IL-12 family of heterodimeric cytokines, which have important immunological functions. IL-12 is composed of two disulfide-linkedsubunits of 35 kDa and 40 kDa, respectively. The 35 kDa subunit (p35) is an α-helical protein homologous to IL-6 and GCSF.The 40 kDa subunit(p40) contains one fibronectin type III and one Ig C2-like domain, and has a high degree of structural homology to type I cytokine receptors. Whereas p35 subunit is unique to IL-12,the p40 subunit is also utilized in IL-23.Mature rat p35 is a 194 amino acids (aa) protein that is secreted as a heterodimer linked to p40. It contains three potential N-linked glycosylation sites and shares 86%, and 58% aa sequence identity with mouse and human p35, respectively. Mature rat p40 contains 313 aa and can exist in multiple forms, including monomer, homodimer, heterodimer linked to p19 (forming IL23), and heterodimer linked to p35 (forming IL-12). IL12 facilitates hematopoietic st

Interleukin-2(IL-2)is a O-glycosylated four α-helix bundle cytokine that has potent stimulatory activity for antigenactivated T cells. It is expressed by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, γδ T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, and eosinophils. Mature rat IL-2 shares 66% and 73% amino acid sequence identity with human and mouse IL-2,respectively. The receptor for IL-2 consists of three subunits that are present on the cell surface in varying preformed complexes. IL-2 is a powerful immunoregulatory lymphokine produced by T-cells in response to antigenic or mitogenic stimulation. IL-2/IL-2R signaling is required for T-cell proliferation and other fundamental functions that are essential for the immune response. IL-2 stimulates growth and differentiation of B-cells, NK cells, lymphokine-activated killer cells, monocytes, macrophages and oligodendrocytes.

FGF6, also known as FGF-6, belongs to the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. Members of this family have extensive mitogenic and cell survival activities, and participate in many biological processes, including embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. FGF6 plays an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation, cell differentiation, angiogenesis and myogenesis. It is also necessary for normal muscle regeneration.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 17(FGF-17) is a member of the heparin - binding growth factors family that is prominently expressed in the cerebellum and cortex. Proteins of this family possess broad mitogenic and cell survival activities and they are involved in a variety of biological processes including embryonic development cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth, and invasion. FGF-17 plays an important role in the regulation of embryonic development and it acts as signaling molecule in the induction and patterning of the embryonic brain. In addition, FGF-17 stimulates the proliferation and activation of cells that express FGF receptors.

Interleukin-17A (IL-17A), also known as CTLA-8, belongs to the IL-17 cytokine family. IL-17A is expressed in memory Th17 cells and is a product of memory CD4+T cells. In addition to Th17 cells, IL-17A can also be produced by various immune cells, including CD8+T cells γδ T cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells, monocytes, and neutrophils. IL-17A plays a crucial role in the host's defense mechanisms against many bacterial and fungal pathogens, as well as in allergic and autoimmune responses. IL-17A plays a role in viral infection by promoting neutrophil inflammation. IL-17A is a homodimeric cytokine with similar biological activity to IL-17F. IL-17A and IL-17RA have high affinity binding, and IL-17RA is essential for the biological activity of IL-17A. IL-17A cannot bind to T cells, B cells, and myeloid cells lacking IL-17RA. IL-17A is associated with various autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, and psoriasis. IL-17A als

Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) is a multifunctional ligand protein belonging to TGF β Family. BMP4 is expressed by endothelial cells (EC) in response to hypoxia and promotes proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC). For example, it inhibits the proliferation of SMCs isolated from the proximal pulmonary artery while inducing the proliferation of SMCs isolated from the distal pulmonary artery. BMP4 seems to be a marker and driver of vascular calcification, especially in atherosclerosis. BMP4 induces angiogenesis, endothelial cell (EC) proliferation, and migration. BMP4 is differentially expressed in calcified atherosclerotic plaque, which is the junction between atherosclerotic vascular calcification and normal bone formation mechanism. BMP4 increases plaque formation, promotes oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and osteogenic differentiation through its proinflammatory and atherogenic effects.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 17 (FGF-17) is a part of the fibroblast growth factor family. FGF family members have broad mitogenic and cell survival activities, and are involved in various biological processes includingmorphogenesis, embryonic development cell growth, , tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. The FGF17 gene is highly expressed in the cerebellum and cortex. The mouse homolog of the FGF17 gene is localized to specific sites in the midline structures of the forebrain, the midbrain-hindbrain junction, developing skeleton and developing arteries, suggesting a part in central nervous system, bone and vascular development.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that also has an important role in immunity. Mouse IL-6 appears to be directly involved in the responses that occur after infection and injury and may prove to be as important as IL-1 in regulating the acute phase response. Mouse IL-6 is reported to be produced by fibroblasts, activated T cells, activated monocytes or macrophages, and endothelial cells. It acts upon a variety of cells, including fibroblasts, myeloid progenitor cells, T cells, B cells and hepatocytes. IL-6 has a wide variety of biological functions: it plays an essential role in the final differentiation of B-cells into Ig-secreting cells, it induces myeloma and plasmacytoma growth, nerve cells differentiation in hepatocytes, and acute phase reactants.