Recombinant Human CD40 Ligand (soluble)

Recombinant Human CD40 Ligand (soluble) is widely used in research because it is a potent and specific tool for activating the CD40 signaling pathway, which is central to immune regulation, B cell activation, antibody production, and antitumor responses. Its soluble, recombinant form offers several advantages for experimental control, reproducibility, and safety compared to other CD40 agonists such as monoclonal antibodies.

Key scientific applications and benefits include:

• B cell activation and differentiation: Soluble CD40L robustly stimulates B cell proliferation, immunoglobulin class switching, and antibody secretion, especially when combined with cytokines like IL-4. This is essential for studies on humoral immunity, vaccine responses, and antibody engineering.

• Dendritic cell and monocyte activation: CD40L promotes maturation and activation of dendritic cells and monocytes, enhancing antigen presentation and cytokine production, which is critical for T cell priming and adaptive immune responses.

• Cancer research and immunotherapy: Recombinant soluble CD40L can directly inhibit the growth of certain tumor cells (e.g., breast carcinoma) in vitro and in vivo, induce apoptosis, and augment antitumor immunity without depleting normal immune cells. It is also being explored as a therapeutic agent and as a biomarker for cancer progression and immune status.

• T cell regulation: CD40L is involved in T cell activation and the generation of memory CD8+ T cells, making it valuable for studies on T cell biology and immunological memory.

• Experimental advantages: Using recombinant soluble CD40L avoids the risk of depleting normal CD40-expressing cells (as can occur with anti-CD40 antibodies) and reduces the likelihood of immune reactions against murine antibody components in humanized systems.

• Reproducibility and specificity: Recombinant proteins provide consistent activity and defined molecular forms, which is crucial for quantitative and mechanistic studies.

In summary, recombinant human CD40 ligand (soluble) is a versatile reagent for dissecting CD40-mediated immune mechanisms, developing immunotherapies, and modeling immune-tumor interactions, with broad applications in immunology, oncology, and translational research.

Yes, recombinant human CD40 ligand (soluble) can be used as a standard for quantification or calibration in ELISA assays, provided that the recombinant protein is of high purity, bioactivity, and is compatible with the detection antibodies and assay format used in your ELISA.

Several sources confirm that recombinant human CD40 ligand (soluble) is commonly used for this purpose:

• Recombinant human CD40 ligand (soluble) is available in well-characterized forms, such as those expressed in E. coli and purified to high purity (>97%) (e.g., R&D Systems, Thermo Fisher Scientific).
• These recombinant proteins are specifically designed for use in functional assays and as standards in ELISA kits.
• The Quantikine ELISA kit (R&D Systems) and other commercial ELISA kits for human CD40 ligand are validated using recombinant human CD40 ligand as the standard, and the kit documentation confirms that the recombinant standard accurately quantitates both recombinant and naturally occurring CD40 ligand.
• When using recombinant protein as a standard, it is important to ensure that the protein is properly reconstituted and diluted in a matrix that closely matches your sample type (e.g., assay diluent or buffer containing carrier protein such as BSA) to minimize matrix effects and ensure accurate quantification.

In summary, recombinant human CD40 ligand (soluble) is suitable as a standard for ELISA calibration, as long as it is compatible with your assay system and properly prepared. Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for reconstitution and use.

Recombinant Human CD40 Ligand (soluble) has been validated for a range of applications in published research, primarily in immunology, oncology, and cell biology.

Key validated applications include:

• Functional Assays: Used to stimulate CD40 signaling in target cells, such as B cells, dendritic cells, and carcinoma cell lines, to assess downstream biological effects including proliferation, cytokine secretion, and apoptosis.
• Blocking Assays: Employed to block the interaction between CD40 and its ligand, which is relevant in studies of immune modulation and autoimmune disease models.
• ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay): Used as a standard or detection reagent to quantify CD40L or to verify binding activity between CD40 and CD40L.
• Western Blot: Utilized to detect CD40L protein or to confirm its expression and purity in recombinant preparations.
• Immunohistochemistry: Applied to detect CD40L in tissue samples, though this is less common for the soluble recombinant form.
• Flow Cytometry (FACS): Used to verify binding of CD40L to CD40-expressing cells and to assess functional responses such as upregulation of activation markers or cytokine production.
• In vitro and in vivo cancer research: Demonstrated to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in CD40-expressing carcinoma cell lines (e.g., breast cancer), and to enhance survival in tumor-bearing animal models.
• Biomarker studies: Soluble CD40L is investigated as a biomarker for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring response to therapy.
• Immunomodulation: Used to stimulate B cell proliferation, immunoglobulin class switching, and antibody secretion, as well as to augment immune responses in various experimental systems.

Supporting details:

• Soluble CD40L mimics the biological activity of the membrane-bound form, activating CD40 signaling pathways in target cells.
• In cancer research, recombinant soluble CD40L has been shown to directly inhibit tumor cell growth and promote apoptosis, as well as to enhance antitumor immunity in preclinical models.
• In immunology, it is widely used to activate B cells and dendritic cells, supporting studies of humoral and cellular immune responses.
• The protein is also used in biochemical assays (e.g., ELISA, BLI) to characterize CD40-CD40L interactions and binding affinities.

Summary of main validated applications:

• Functional and blocking assays
• ELISA and Western blot
• Flow cytometry (FACS)
• Immunohistochemistry
• In vitro and in vivo cancer models
• Biomarker research
• Immunomodulation and cell activation studies

These applications are supported by both product validation data and peer-reviewed research, demonstrating the versatility of recombinant human CD40 Ligand (soluble) in experimental and translational studies.

To reconstitute and prepare Recombinant Human CD40 Ligand (soluble) protein for cell culture experiments, follow these best-practice steps:

• Centrifuge the vial briefly before opening to ensure all lyophilized material is at the bottom.
• Reconstitute the protein in sterile PBS or sterile distilled water. The recommended concentration for reconstitution varies by supplier, but common values are 0.2–0.5 mg/mL (200–500 μg/mL). If your protocol or datasheet specifies a different concentration, follow that guidance.
• For improved stability and to prevent adsorption, include 0.1% BSA (bovine serum albumin) or 5% fetal calf serum in the reconstitution buffer, especially if further dilutions will be made or if the protein will be stored in aliquots.
• Mix gently by swirling or inverting; avoid vigorous vortexing to prevent protein denaturation.
• Allow several minutes for complete solubilization.
• If the protein is provided with an activity enhancer, mix the enhancer and CD40L together and incubate for 30 minutes at room temperature before adding to cells.
• Prepare aliquots after reconstitution to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Store aliquots at –20°C or –80°C as recommended, and avoid multiple freeze-thaw cycles to preserve activity.
• For cell culture applications, dilute the reconstituted stock to the desired working concentration using cell culture medium containing serum or carrier protein. Typical working concentrations for stimulation are 0.5–10 μg/mL, but optimal dosing should be determined empirically for your cell type and assay.

Summary Table: Key Steps for Reconstitution and Use

Additional Notes:

• Always consult the specific product datasheet for any lot-specific instructions or recommended concentrations.
• If using an activity enhancer, follow the manufacturer's protocol for incubation and mixing.
• For functional assays, confirm biological activity after reconstitution if possible.

These steps will help ensure optimal solubility, stability, and biological activity of recombinant human CD40 Ligand for cell culture experiments.