Anti-Mouse IL-4 (Clone 11B11) – Purified in vivo PLATINUM™ Functional Grade

Clone 11B11 is specifically designed and widely used as a neutralizing antibody for in vivo mouse studies targeting IL-4. This antibody serves as a powerful research tool for investigating the biological functions and pathways mediated by IL-4 in living mouse models.

Primary In Vivo Application

The 11B11 antibody functions as a neutralizing agent that blocks IL-4 bioactivity in vivo. When administered to mice, it binds to circulating IL-4 and prevents the cytokine from interacting with its natural receptors, effectively eliminating IL-4's biological effects within the animal. This neutralization capability makes it invaluable for researchers studying IL-4-dependent processes and pathways.

Research Applications

Immune Response Studies: Since IL-4 is secreted by Th2 cells, NKT cells, mast cells, eosinophils, and basophils, the 11B11 antibody allows researchers to investigate how blocking IL-4 affects various immune responses. This is particularly useful in studies of allergic reactions, asthma, and other Th2-mediated immune conditions.

Functional Analysis: By neutralizing IL-4 in vivo, researchers can determine which biological processes are dependent on IL-4 signaling versus those that can proceed independently. This helps establish the specific roles of IL-4 in development, immune regulation, and disease processes.

Specialized In Vivo Formulations

The antibody is available in ultra-low endotoxin formulations specifically designed for in vivo use. These preparations contain endotoxin levels ?0.5 EU/mg and are manufactured in animal-free facilities using sterile techniques to ensure they won't cause unwanted inflammatory responses that could confound experimental results.

The LEAF™ (Low Endotoxin, Azide-Free) purified format is specifically recommended for in vivo neutralization studies, as it meets the stringent purity requirements needed for animal research.

Quality and Safety Standards

In vivo grade 11B11 antibodies undergo rigorous pathogen testing and are guaranteed to be negative for all pathogens in standard mouse pathogen panels, protecting research colonies from infection while ensuring experimental data integrity. The antibodies maintain high purity levels (?98% monomer by analytical SEC, >95% by SDS Page) and are formulated in sterile phosphate buffered saline without preservatives that could interfere with biological systems.

The correct storage temperature for sterile packaged clone 11B11 (anti-mouse IL-4 monoclonal antibody) depends on its formulation:

• Sterile liquid (functional/purified): Store at 2–8°C for up to one month; for long-term storage, aliquot and store at ? ?70°C.
• Lyophilized (freeze-dried): Store at 2–8°C (stable for at least one year).
• After reconstitution (if lyophilized): Store at 2–8°C for up to one month, or in working aliquots at ?20°C to ?80°C for up to one year.
• General antibody solutions: Store undiluted at 2–8°C; do not freeze unless specifically permitted by manufacturer.

Avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles in all cases.

Review your product’s datasheet or packaging for formulation-specific instructions, as individual manufacturers may have slightly different recommendations.

When using 11B11 (an anti-mouse IL-4 antibody) in research, several other antibodies and proteins are commonly used alongside it, depending on the context and assay. The most frequently reported are:

• BVD6-24G2: This is a biotinylated anti-mouse IL-4 antibody widely used as the detection antibody in sandwich ELISA or ELISPOT assays together with 11B11 as the capture antibody.
• Isotype Controls: For in vivo and neutralization studies, isotype control antibodies such as GL113 are used to distinguish specific effects due to IL-4 blockade by 11B11 from non-specific antibody effects.
• Recombinant Mouse IL-4: Used as a standard for quantification in ELISA or ELISPOT assays.
• Other Therapeutic Antibodies: In cancer and immunology research, 11B11 is often used in combination with therapeutic antibodies targeting other molecules. For example, trastuzumab (anti-HER2) is combined with 11B11 to study combinatorial effects in tumor models.
• Cytokine and Immune Cell Markers: In flow cytometry or multiplexed assays (CyTOF, FCM), 11B11 may be paired with antibodies against other cytokines (e.g., IL-5, IL-13, IFN?, TNF?) or lineage markers (e.g., CD4, CD8, CD25) to analyze immune cell subsets and cytokine production profiles.
• Immunohistochemistry and Immunocytochemistry Antibodies: When used in tissue staining (IHC/ICC), 11B11 may be multiplexed with antibodies to other immune markers or cell type–specific proteins depending on the experimental design.

Typical combinations in the literature:

The choice of companion antibodies or proteins depends on the assay and the biological questions addressed. The most directly and consistently reported is the use of biotinylated BVD6-24G2 as a detection antibody in ELISA/ELISPOT. In immunotherapy or signaling pathway studies, antibodies like trastuzumab or isotype controls such as GL113 are standard.

For further details on specific combinations or panels, consult experimental methods sections in primary research articles, as panels may differ by experimental aim.

Clone 11B11 is a widely used monoclonal antibody that neutralizes mouse interleukin-4 (IL-4), and scientific literature identifies several key findings from research employing it:

• 11B11 efficiently neutralizes IL-4, preventing its binding to the IL-4 receptor, and is instrumental in dissecting the biological functions of IL-4 in vivo and in vitro.
• 11B11 has revealed that IL-4 is crucial for immunoglobulin isotype switching, especially promoting switches to IgG1 and IgE in B cells, and this switching can be blocked by 11B11.
• In tumor models, combination therapy using 11B11 and antibodies such as trastuzumab improves treatment efficacy by reducing alternatively activated myeloid cell infiltration (CD11b^+^CD206^+^ cells) into the tumor microenvironment, and modulating cytokine and chemokine profiles.
• 11B11-driven IL-4 neutralization primarily affects myeloid cells rather than T cells in the tumor microenvironment, implying myeloid cell-directed immunity in certain antibody therapies.
• In immunization and vaccine research, blocking IL-4 with 11B11 affects somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation of antibody responses, leading to reduced activity and affinity in macrophage and B-cell functions, particularly for IgG1-secreting cells.

Additional relevant points:

• 11B11 is routinely referenced and sourced in peer-reviewed studies focusing on immunology, vaccination, and cancer therapy due to its robust neutralization of IL-4.
• IL-4 signaling—interrogated using 11B11—regulates B-cell proliferation, antibody affinity maturation, and the recruitment and differentiation of specific immune cell subsets in complex disease models.

In summary, citation analysis demonstrates that clone 11B11 is an essential tool for elucidating IL-4’s roles in isotype switching, tumor immunology, and antibody maturation, and its use shapes our understanding of immune modulation across several fields.