IL-4 Polyclonal

Interleukin-4 (IL-4), also knowns as a B-cell stimulatory factor1 (BSF1), is an immunomodulatory cytokine, which can inhibit the growth of tumor cells. The human cDNA contains a single open reading frame encoding a protein of 153 amino acids, including a putative signal peptide. IL-4 may act as an autocrine growth factor in pancreatic cancer cells and also give rise to the possibility that cancer-derived IL-4 may suppress cancer-directed immunosurveillance in vivo in addition to its growth-promoting effects, thereby facilitating pancreatic tumor growth and metastasis. The mouse and human genes and their protein products show structural and functional similarities. The human IL-4 gene, which occurs as a single copy in the haploid genome, is mapped on chromosome 5. The standard product used in this kit is recombinant human IL-4, consisting of 130 amino acids with the molecular mass of 14 KDa. Participates in at least several B-cell activation processes as well as of other cell types. It is a costimulator of DNA-synthesis. It induces the expression of class II MHC molecules on resting B-cells. It enhances both secretion and cell surface expression of IgE and IgG1. It also regulates the expression of the low affinity Fc receptor for IgE (CD23) on both lymphocytes and monocytes.