IL 1 alpha Rat, His
Description
Biological Function and Signaling
IL-1α acts as a dual-function cytokine:
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Nuclear Role: Regulates transcription via its N-terminal propiece (ppIL-1α), which translocates to the nucleus .
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Extracellular Role: Binds to the IL-1 receptor complex (IL-1 RI/IL-1 RAcP) to activate inflammatory pathways, including NF-κB and MAPK signaling .
Key Functions:
Research Applications
IL-1 alpha Rat, His is widely used in:
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Inflammation Studies: Investigating mechanisms of sterile inflammation (e.g., ischemia, injury) .
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Fever Pathways: Elucidating IL-1α’s role in LPS-induced fever models, where endogenous IL-1ra modulates its activity .
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Disease Biomarker Research: Validating IL-1α as a marker for conditions like interstitial lung disease, myocardial ischemia, and dermatitis .
Role in Sterile Inflammation
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In rat models, IL-1α is constitutively stored in epithelial cells and released during necrosis, acting as a DAMP to initiate neutrophil infiltration .
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Local injection of LPS in subcutaneous air pouches elevates IL-1α levels, correlating with fever onset .
Antagonism by IL-1ra
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IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) competitively inhibits IL-1α binding, requiring a 500:1 molar ratio for effective blockade .
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Delayed IL-1ra production modulates the magnitude and duration of febrile responses .
Clinical and Experimental Relevance
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Disease Associations: Elevated IL-1α is linked to rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and metabolic liver diseases .
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Therapeutic Targeting: IL-1α-neutralizing antibodies or IL-1ra are under investigation for inflammatory disorders .
Comparative Analysis Across Species
| Species | Protein Length | Molecular Weight (Da) |
|---|---|---|
| Human | 271 | 30,607 |
| Mouse | 270 | 31,023 |
| Rat | 270 | 30,856 |
Rat IL-1α shares ~75% homology with human and mouse variants, enabling cross-species immunological studies .
Product Specs
Product Science Overview
Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) is a cytokine produced by activated macrophages. It plays a crucial role in the inflammatory response, stimulating thymocyte proliferation by inducing interleukin-2 release, B-cell maturation, and fibroblast growth factor activity. IL-1 alpha is also identified as an endogenous pyrogen, stimulating the release of prostaglandin and collagenase from synovial cells .
The recombinant form of rat IL-1 alpha is produced in Escherichia coli (E. coli). It is a single, non-glycosylated polypeptide chain containing 179 amino acids, with a molecular mass of approximately 20.2 kDa. The recombinant protein is fused to a 23 amino acid His-tag at the N-terminus, which facilitates its purification through chromatographic techniques .
For short-term storage (2-4 weeks), the recombinant IL-1 alpha should be kept at 4°C. For longer periods, it should be stored frozen at -20°C. To ensure long-term stability, it is recommended to add a carrier protein such as 0.1% human serum albumin (HSA) or bovine serum albumin (BSA). Multiple freeze-thaw cycles should be avoided to maintain protein integrity .
Recombinant IL-1 alpha is widely used in laboratory research to study its role in the inflammatory response and its effects on various cell types. It is important to note that this product is intended for research use only and is not suitable for use as a drug, agricultural or pesticidal product, food additive, or household chemical .
