| Description | Human IgG4-Kappa, Recombinant (IB4), Isotype Control, could be used for Flow Cytometry | Protein Purity>95% by SDS-PAGEExtinction Coeff.A276 nm = 0.456 at 1.0 mg/mLMolecular Weight8,759 Da (single chain)General DescriptionNatural human C4a is prepared by cleavage of human C4 protein by human C1s. It is produced during activation of both the classical and lectin pathways of complementProtein Purity>95% by SDS-PAGEExtinction Coeff.A276 nm = 0.456 at 1.0 mg/mLMolecular Weight8,759 Da (single chain)General DescriptionNatural human C4a is prepared by cleavage of human C4 protein by human C1s. It is produced during activation of both the classical and lectin pathways of complement. C4a is a member of the anaphylatoxin family of three proteins (C3a, C4a and C5a) produced by the activation of complement (Hugli, T.E. et al. (1981)). It is an unglycosylated polypeptidecontaining 77 amino acids with a molecular mass of 8,759 daltons. Many of the biological functions of C4a are similar to those of C3a, but the specific activities are far below those of C3a. C4a activity is so low, in fact, that it was initially thought to be inactive. These measured activities include inducing muscle contraction in the guinea pig ileum test (spasmogenic activity), desensitization of muscle to C3a stimulation suggesting that the same receptor for both C3a and C4a is involved (tachyphylactic activity) and inducing vascular permeability in human skin (Gorski J.P. et al. (1979)). C4a does not show tachyphylactic activity against C5a or chemotactic activity. Removal of the C-terminal arginine by serum carboxypeptidase N destroys all these activities (Meuller-Ortiz, S.L., et al. (2009)). C4a appears to act through the C3a receptor (C3aR) which is a G-protein coupled receptor found widely distributed on peripheral tissues, lymphoid cells (neutrohphils, monocyes, and eosinophils) and in the central nervous system (astrocytes, neurons and glial cells) (Law, S.K.A. and Reid, K.B.M. (1995)). Physical Characteristics & StructureMolecular weight: 8,759 calculated molecular mass. Observed mass (MALDI-TOF) is 8,762 + 9 mass units. pI = 9.0 to 9.5 (Gorski, J.P. et al. (1981))Amino acid sequence (77 amino acids): NVNFQKAINE KLGQYASPTA KRCCQDGVTR LPMMRSCEQR AARVQQPDCR EPFLSCCQFA ESLRKKSRDK GQAGLQRC4a is thought to be structurally very similar to C3a and C5a to which it is homologous. Thus its 3D structure is probably similar to the X-ray-derived crystal structureof C3a (Huber, R. et al. (1980)) and the NMR derived structure of C3a: Nettesheim, D.G. et al. (1988); Murray, I. et al. (1999).FunctionSee General Description above. C4a exhibits much weaker biological activities than C3a and C5a. Its activity in inducing erythema and edema in human skin is 25,000-fold weaker than that of C5a and 100-fold weaker than C3a per nanomole. The spasmogenic activity of C4a is 2000-fold weaker than C5a and 100-fold weaker than that of C3a. Due to these differences the role of C4a in these responses in vivo is thought to be negligible.AssaysTwo well established assays for C4a and C3a functional activities include induction of contraction in the guinea pig ileum and the permeation of a dye such as trypan blue from the vasculature into skin. The anaphylatoxins also induce mast cell degranulation, (measured as histamine release), platelet aggregation, IL-1 release from monocytes and the release of prostaglandins and leukotrienes from many cells and tissues. The other assays used for C3a (Dodds, A.W. and Sim, R.B. (1997)) should also respond to C4a, but few reports have described utilizing these assays with C4a. ELISA kits for the assay of C4a levels (or more correctly C4a desArg levels) in blood and other fluids are sold by several companies. These measurements are useful for detecting complement activation in vivo, but the interpretation of their meaning is complicated by the fact that clearance of the anaphylatoxins is rapid. In vivoFreshly drawn normal human serum contains significant levels of all three anaphylatoxins. Although these may represent the resting concentration in vivo it is difficult to draw or store blood without some complement activation so a true in vivo concentration is difficult to determine. The presence of EDTA and Futhan in the collection tubes can minimize this background (Pfeifer, P.H. et al. (1999)). Full activation of all C4 in blood (600µg/mL) would result in ~3,400 nM C4a (~30 µg/mL). Due to the low biological activity of C4a it could require activation of most of the C4 in a small region to achieve the micromolar C4a concentrations necessary to elicit a response.RegulationC4a levels are regulated by three processes: formation, inactivation and clearance. There are two enzymes that cleave C4 and release C4a: C1s and MASP-2. C4a is “inactivated” by removal of its C-terminal arginine amino acid. The product C4a desArg (or C4a without the C-terminal arginine) is produced by the action of the plasma enzyme carboxypeptidase N (Mueller-Ortiz S.L. et al. (2009)). The inactivation is rapid and most C4a is converted to C4a desArg within minutes of its formation. Inactivated C4a lack measurable biological activity. Because of the large number of cells bearing C3a/C4areceptors (endothelial, immune, smooth muscle, neuronal, etc.) the capture, internalization and digestion of C4a and C4a desArg probably results in its removal from circulation.DeficienciesA deficiency of C4 or a deficiency of all of the enzymes that cleave C4 to generate C4a could result in the absence of C4a. There are no known complete deficiencies of all ofthe C4 cleaving enzymes. Examples of C4 deficient humans and mice exist (Wessels, M.R. et al. (1995)), but the degree to which pathologies associated with C4 deficiency are due to the lack of C4 or the absence of C4a is unclear. DiseasesThere are no known diseases connected to C4a or C4a desArg. Precautions/Toxicity/HazardsThe source of C4a is human serum, therefore appropriate precautions must be observed even though the source was shown by certified tests to be negative for HBsAg, HTLV-I/II, STS, and for antibodies to HCV, HIV-1 and HIV-II.Injection can cause anaphylatic shock which is a generalized circulatory collapse similar to that caused by an allergic reaction.Hazard Code: B WGK Germany 3... Read More | H-7 dihydrochloride blocks human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) replication in MOLT-4 (clone No. 8) cell line. It increases the secretion of interleukin 1β (IL-1β).Application:H-7 dihydrochloride has been used to study H-7-induced inhibition of contractility in rat embryo H-7 dihydrochloride blocks human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) replication in MOLT-4 (clone No. 8) cell line. It increases the secretion of interleukin 1β (IL-1β).Application:H-7 dihydrochloride has been used to study H-7-induced inhibition of contractility in rat embryo fibroblasts (REF52) cells and acts as a kinase inhibitor... Read More | Purity:>95%, by SDS-PAGE visualized with Coomassie® Blue Staining.Description:CD200 R1, also known as OX-2 receptor, is a 90 kDa transmembrane protein in the immunoglobulin superfamily and is important in the regulation of myeloid cell activity. The human CD200 R1 cDNA encodes a 325 Purity:>95%, by SDS-PAGE visualized with Coomassie® Blue Staining.Description:CD200 R1, also known as OX-2 receptor, is a 90 kDa transmembrane protein in the immunoglobulin superfamily and is important in the regulation of myeloid cell activity. The human CD200 R1 cDNA encodes a 325 amino acid (aa) precursor that includes a 28 aa signal sequence, a 215 aa extracellular domain (ECD), a 21 aa transmembrane segment, and a 61 aa cytoplasmic domain. The ECD is composed of one Ig-like V-type domain and one Ig-like C2-type domain. Within the ECD, human CD200 R1 shares 56% aa sequence identity with both mouse and rat CD200 R1. Alternate splicing of the human CD200 R1 mRNA generates four isoforms, two of which are truncated in the Ig-C2 domain and are likely secreted. In human, a separate CD200 RL gene encodes a protein that shares 81% ECD aa identity with CD200 R1. In mouse, at least four genes for CD200 R1-like molecules have been described. CD200 R1 expression is restricted primarily to mast cells, basophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells, while its ligand, CD200, is widely distributed. Disruption of this receptor-ligand system by knockout of the CD200 gene in mice leads to increased macrophage number and activation and predisposition to autoimmune disorders. Association of CD200 with CD200 R1 takes place between their respective N-terminal Ig-like domains. The capacity of CD200 R1-like molecules to interact with CD200 is controversial. CD200 R1 propagates inhibitory signals despite lacking a cytoplasmic ITIM (immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif). CD200 R1-like molecules, in contrast, are potentially activating receptors by means of their association with DAP12. CD200R1 signaling inhibits the expression of proinflammatory molecules including TNFs, IFNs, and inducible nitric oxide synthase in response to selected stimuli, which implicate that CD200/CD200R1 inhibitory signaling pathway plays a prominent role in limiting inflammation in a wide range of inflammatory diseases. Furthermore, the CD200/CD200R inhibitory signaling constitutes one of the most suitable endogenous immunoregulatory molecule candidate to restore the immune suppressive status of the CNS altered in chronic neuroinflammatory situations... Read More | Purity: >95%, by SDS-PAGE visualized with Coomassie® Blue Staining. Description: CD4, also known as L3T4, T4, and W3/25, is an approximately 55 kDa type I transmembrane glycoprotein that is expressed predominantly on thymocytes and a subset of mature T lymphocytes. It is a standard Purity: >95%, by SDS-PAGE visualized with Coomassie® Blue Staining. Description: CD4, also known as L3T4, T4, and W3/25, is an approximately 55 kDa type I transmembrane glycoprotein that is expressed predominantly on thymocytes and a subset of mature T lymphocytes. It is a standard phenotype marker for the identification of T cell populations. Mature human CD4 consists of a 371 amino acid (aa) extracellular region containing four immunoglobulin-like domains, a 22 aa transmembrane segment, and a 40 aa cytoplasmic domain. Within the ECD, human CD4 shares approximately 52% aa sequence identity with mouse and rat CD4. CD4 is expressed along with CD8 on double positive T cells during their development in the thymus. Either CD4 or CD8 expression is then lost, giving rise to single positive (SP) CD4+ or CD8+ mature T cells. CD4+ SP cells, also known as T helper cells, further differentiate into multiple subsets of CD4+ cells including Th1, Th2, Th17, Tfh, and Treg cells which regulate humoral and cellular immunity. CD4 is reexpressed on circulating CD8+ T cells upon activation and contributes to their cytotoxic effector activity. In human, CD4 is additionally expressed on macrophages, neutrophils, monocytes, NK cells, and neurons and glial cells in the brain. Similar CD4 distribution between species cannot be assumed as demonstrated by its presence on macrophages in human and rat but not in mouse. CD4 binds directly to MHC class II molecules on antigen presenting cells. This interaction contributes to the formation of the immunological synapse which is focused around the TCR-MHC class II-antigenic peptide interaction. Palmitoylation of two cysteine residues in the cytoplasmic tail of CD4 promotes the localization of CD4 in lipid rafts and its ability to augment TCR signaling via activation of the tyrosine kinase Lck. CD4 also functions as a chemotactic receptor for IL-16 and, in human, as a co-receptor for the gp120 surface glycoprotein of HIV-1... Read More |