Mouse IL-28 (IFN lambda) ELISA Ready-SET-Go!®

Description: This Mouse IL-28 ELISA set contains all of the necessary reagents for the quantitative performance of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. It has been optimized for the accurate and precise measurement of IL-28 protein levels in serum, plasma, and tissue culture supernatant samples. The antibodies in this set were produced against and characterized with recombinant mouse IL-28B/ IFN-λ3 and have not been evaluated for detection of mouse IL-28A/ IFN-λ2. Cross-reactivity is probable, due to the high sequence homology between IL-28A and IL-28B.

IL-28 belongs to the IFN-λ family, a novel family of cytokines within the IL-10 superfamily. The three members of this family are IL-29 (IFN-λ1), IL-28A (IFN-λ2), and IL-28B (IFN-λ3), and are also known as the type III Interferons. An active IL-29 gene is absent in mice, and sequence homology between mouse IL-28A and B is 97%. Expression of these cytokines has been observed in a wide variety of cells in response to viral infection and in response to TLR3 or TLR9 ligands.

The IFN-λ family signals through a heterodimeric receptor of which one subunit, IL-10R2, is shared with other members of the superfamily. The second subunit, IFN-λR1 or IL-28Rα, is unique to the IFN-λs. Signaling occurs through the Jak/STAT pathway in a similar manner to signaling by the type I IFNs (IFN-α/β) and activates many of the same genes despite low sequence homology between the cytokines and receptors in the two families. Both IFN families display antiviral, antitumor, and antiproliferative effects, making the IFN-λs potential alternatives to IFN-α for anticancer and antiviral therapies. Unlike the type I IFNs, which are able to stimulate most cells, response to IFN-λ stimulation appears to be limited to dendritic, epithelial, and some tumor cells. Another notable difference is the ability of the IFN-λ stimulation to drive dendritic cells towards the production of CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ regulatory T-cells, suggesting a possible immunoregulatory role.

References: Ank N, Iversen M, Bartholdy C, Staeheli P, Hartmann R, Jensen U, Dagnaes-Hansen F, Thomsen A, Chen Z, Haugen H, Klucher K, and Paludan S. An important role for type III Interferon (IFN-lambda/IL-28) in TLR-induced antiviral activity. J Immuno. 2008; 180: 2474-85.

Ank N, West H, Bartholdy C, Eriksson K, Thomsen A, and Paludan S. Lambda interferon (IFN-lambda), a type III IFN, is induced by viruses and IFNs and displays potent antiviral activity against select virus infections in vivo. J Virol. 2006 May; 4501-9.

Commins S, Steinke JW, Borish L. The extended IL-10 superfamily: IL-10, IL-19, IL-20, IL-22, IL-24, IL-26, IL-28, and IL-29. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008 May; 121(5): 1108-11.