Recombinant Mouse IL-11 Rα (aa 26-367)

Recombinant Mouse IL-11 Rα (aa 26-367) is used in research to study the biology and signaling of the interleukin-11 receptor alpha (IL-11Rα), which is crucial for understanding IL-11-mediated pathways in inflammation, cancer, bone metabolism, and aging. This recombinant protein represents the extracellular domain of the mouse IL-11Rα, enabling precise in vitro and in vivo studies of ligand-receptor interactions, signaling mechanisms, and therapeutic targeting.

Key applications and scientific rationale include:

• Mechanistic Studies of IL-11 Signaling: IL-11Rα binds IL-11 with low affinity and then forms a high-affinity receptor complex with gp130, initiating downstream JAK/STAT and ERK–mTORC1 signaling pathways. Using the recombinant extracellular domain (aa 26-367) allows researchers to dissect these interactions, map binding sites, and study receptor activation or inhibition in a controlled manner.

• Therapeutic Target Validation: IL-11Rα is implicated in several pathologies, including bone metastasis, osteosarcoma, and age-related diseases. Recombinant IL-11Rα can be used to screen for antagonists, decoy ligands, or antibodies that block IL-11 signaling, supporting drug discovery and therapeutic development.

• Cancer and Fibrosis Research: Genetic or pharmacological blockade of IL-11/IL-11Rα signaling reduces tumor growth, fibrosis, and inflammation in animal models, and is associated with improved healthspan and lifespan. Recombinant IL-11Rα is essential for in vitro assays to test inhibitors or to study the molecular basis of these effects.

• Bone and Hematopoietic Studies: IL-11Rα is involved in bone homeostasis, osteogenesis, and bone marrow hematopoiesis. The recombinant receptor can be used to investigate these processes, particularly in the context of bone metastasis or marrow disorders.

• Biochemical and Structural Analyses: The aa 26-367 fragment corresponds to the extracellular domain, which is suitable for crystallography, binding assays, and biophysical studies to elucidate receptor structure and function.

• Immunological and Cell Biology Assays: Recombinant IL-11Rα can be used as a capture reagent in ELISA, as a competitor in binding assays, or to generate neutralizing antibodies for research purposes.

Summary of advantages:

• Provides a defined, species-specific tool for dissecting IL-11/IL-11Rα biology.
• Enables screening and validation of therapeutic agents targeting IL-11 signaling.
• Facilitates studies on aging, cancer, fibrosis, and bone metabolism by allowing precise modulation of IL-11 pathways.

In summary, using recombinant Mouse IL-11 Rα (aa 26-367) in your research enables detailed mechanistic, therapeutic, and translational studies of IL-11 signaling, with broad applications in immunology, oncology, aging, and bone biology.

Yes, recombinant Mouse IL-11 Rα (aa 26–367) can be used as a standard for quantification or calibration in ELISA assays, provided that the ELISA kit or protocol you are using is designed to detect the IL-11 Rα protein and that the recombinant protein matches the epitope(s) recognized by the detection antibodies in your assay.

Key Considerations:

• Epitope Match: Ensure that the recombinant IL-11 Rα (aa 26–367) contains the regions recognized by both the capture and detection antibodies in your ELISA. If your ELISA kit is designed for full-length IL-11 Rα or a different fragment, there may be differences in detection efficiency.
• Purity and Concentration: Use a highly purified, accurately quantified recombinant protein. Carrier-free versions are preferred for ELISA standards to avoid interference from carrier proteins like BSA.
• Solubility and Stability: Confirm that the recombinant protein is properly solubilized and stable under the assay buffer conditions.
• Validation: It is best practice to validate the recombinant protein as a standard by running a dilution series and confirming linearity and parallelism with your samples.

Reference from R&D Systems:

R&D Systems recommends purchasing recombinant proteins with BSA for cell culture, but for ELISA standards, the carrier-free version is preferred. This is because carrier proteins can interfere with ELISA measurements.

Summary:

Yes, recombinant Mouse IL-11 Rα (aa 26–367) can be used as an ELISA standard if it is compatible with your assay’s detection system and is used in its carrier-free, purified form. Always validate the standard curve for linearity and accuracy in your specific assay conditions.

Recombinant Mouse IL-11 Rα (aa 26-367) has been validated in published research primarily for applications involving bioassays, receptor-ligand interaction studies, and as a tool for investigating IL-11 signaling in disease models.

Key validated applications include:

• Bioassays: Used to study IL-11 signaling pathways, including activation and inhibition of downstream effectors such as STAT3 phosphorylation, and to assess functional responses in hematopoietic, endothelial, and immune cells.
• Receptor-ligand binding studies: Employed to characterize the interaction between IL-11 and its receptor, including the formation of signaling complexes and the effects of soluble receptor forms on signaling.
• Disease model research: Utilized in mouse models to investigate the role of IL-11Rα in bone metastasis, osteosarcoma, and decidualization, as well as in studies targeting IL-11Rα for therapeutic intervention in cancer and fibrosis.
• Imaging and therapeutic agent development: Considered as a candidate target for developing novel imaging probes and therapeutic agents for malignant tumors such as osteosarcoma.
• Cellular localization and expression studies: Used to examine spatial and temporal patterns of IL-11Rα expression in tissues, particularly in reproductive biology and implantation studies.

Additional relevant details:

• The recombinant protein (aa 26-367) represents the extracellular domain of mouse IL-11Rα, which is critical for ligand binding and signal transduction.
• It is commonly used in in vitro assays with primary cell cultures, including fibroblasts, to confirm IL-11 bioactivity and receptor function.
• Deletion or blockade of IL-11Rα in mouse models has been shown to affect processes such as decidualization, hematopoiesis, and inflammatory responses, validating its use in mechanistic studies.

No published research currently validates this recombinant protein for routine use in immunoassays such as ELISA, western blot, or immunohistochemistry; its primary applications are functional and mechanistic studies in cell and animal models.

To reconstitute and prepare Recombinant Mouse IL-11 Rα (aa 26-367) protein for cell culture experiments, dissolve the lyophilized protein in sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), pH 7.2–7.3, at a concentration of 0.2 mg/mL. This concentration is suitable for stock solutions and can be further diluted in cell culture medium as needed for your experiments.

Essential steps and best practices:

• Centrifuge the vial briefly before opening to ensure all lyophilized material is at the bottom.
• Do not vortex or pipette vigorously during reconstitution, as this may denature the protein.
• Use aseptic technique throughout to prevent contamination.
• Aliquot the reconstituted solution to minimize freeze-thaw cycles, which can degrade protein activity.
• After reconstitution, store aliquots at −20°C to −70°C for long-term stability. For short-term use, storage at 2–8°C for up to one month is acceptable.
• Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles to preserve bioactivity.

Recommended buffer and concentration:

• Buffer: Sterile PBS, pH 7.2–7.3 (no calcium, magnesium, or preservatives).
• Concentration: 0.2 mg/mL for stock; dilute further in cell culture medium as required.

Additional notes:

• If your experimental protocol requires a different buffer (e.g., for functional assays), ensure compatibility with cell culture and protein stability.
• For functional studies, confirm the protein’s bioactivity after reconstitution using a relevant assay (e.g., ligand binding or signaling activation).
• If the protein is supplied with additives (e.g., mannitol, Tween-80), these are generally compatible with cell culture but verify with your specific cell type.

Summary of protocol:

1. Centrifuge vial briefly.
2. Add sterile PBS (pH 7.2–7.3) to achieve 0.2 mg/mL.
3. Gently mix by swirling or inverting; avoid vigorous agitation.
4. Aliquot and store as described above.
5. Dilute in cell culture medium for experimental use.

This protocol ensures optimal solubility, stability, and bioactivity of recombinant Mouse IL-11 Rα (aa 26-367) for cell culture applications.