rec. Human Interleukin-7 (rHuIL-7)

Recombinant Human IL-7 produced in E.Coli is a single, non-glycosylated polypeptide of 172 amino acids and a molecular mass of 17,412 Dalton. The ED50 as determined by the dose-dependant stimulation of murine IXN/2B cells is <0.3 ng/mL, corresponding to a Specific Activity of 1 x 10(6) IU/mg. IL-7 is a cytokine important for B and T cell development. This cytokine and the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) form a heterodimer that functions as a pre-pro-B cell growth-stimulating factor. This cytokine is found to be a cofactor for V(D)J rearrangement of the T cell receptor beta (TCRB) during early T cell development. This cytokine can be produced locally by intestinal epithelial and epithelial goblet cells, and may serve as a regulatory factor for intestinal mucosal lymphocytes. Knockout studies in mice suggested that this cytokine plays an essential role in lymphoid cell survival.