Recombinant Rat IL-7 Rα

Recombinant Rat IL-7 Receptor alpha (IL-7Rα) is a valuable tool for research applications focused on understanding the biology of T and B cell development, homeostasis, and immune regulation in rodent models. Here are several reasons why you should consider using Recombinant Rat IL-7Rα in your research:

1. Mechanistic Studies of IL-7 Signaling

IL-7Rα is a critical component of the IL-7 receptor complex, which mediates the effects of IL-7 on lymphocyte survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Using recombinant IL-7Rα allows you to:

• Investigate the molecular mechanisms of IL-7 signaling pathways, such as JAK/STAT activation.
• Study the interaction between IL-7 and its receptor, including binding affinity and downstream signaling events.

2. Modulation of Immune Responses

IL-7Rα plays a central role in regulating both innate and adaptive immunity. By using recombinant IL-7Rα, you can:

• Block or modulate IL-7 signaling to study its impact on T cell and B cell responses.
• Explore the effects of IL-7Rα blockade on autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation, and transplantation models, as demonstrated in rodent studies (e.g., type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and primary Sjögren’s syndrome).

3. Therapeutic Development

Recombinant IL-7Rα can be used to develop and test therapeutic strategies targeting IL-7 signaling. For example:

• Anti-IL-7Rα monoclonal antibodies have shown potent efficacy in preventing and curing ongoing diseases in several autoimmune and chronic inflammatory rodent models.
• These antibodies can also induce long-term survival of islet or skin allografts in rodent transplantation models.

4. Immune Cell Phenotyping and Functional Assays

Recombinant IL-7Rα can be used in various assays to:

• Identify and characterize IL-7Rα-expressing cells.
• Assess the functional status of T and B cells, including their proliferation, survival, and differentiation.
• Evaluate the impact of IL-7Rα blockade on the frequency and function of effector T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs).

5. In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Recombinant IL-7Rα is suitable for both in vitro and in vivo experiments:

• In vitro, it can be used to study the effects of IL-7Rα blockade on cell lines and primary cells.
• In vivo, it can be administered to rodent models to investigate the therapeutic potential of IL-7Rα modulation in various disease contexts.

6. Standardization and Reproducibility

Using recombinant IL-7Rα ensures high purity and reproducibility, which is crucial for obtaining reliable and consistent results in your research. This is particularly important when comparing data across different experiments and laboratories.

7. Cross-Species Applications

While recombinant rat IL-7Rα is primarily used in rat models, it can also provide insights into the human IL-7Rα system due to the high degree of sequence and functional conservation between species.

Summary

Recombinant Rat IL-7Rα is a versatile and essential reagent for studying the biology of IL-7 signaling, immune cell regulation, and the development of therapeutic strategies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Its use can help you gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying immune homeostasis and disease pathogenesis, and support the development of novel treatments.

Yes, recombinant Rat IL-7 Rα can be used as a standard for quantification or calibration in ELISA assays, provided that the recombinant protein is highly purified, well-characterized, and has a known concentration. Using a recombinant protein as a standard allows you to generate a standard curve, which is essential for quantifying the amount of IL-7 Rα in your samples.

However, there are several important considerations:

1. Purity and Characterization: Ensure that the recombinant Rat IL-7 Rα is free from contaminants and aggregates, as impurities can affect the accuracy of your standard curve.

2. Concentration Accuracy: The concentration of the recombinant protein should be accurately determined, typically by methods such as amino acid analysis or quantitative amino acid sequencing.

3. Matrix Effects: The buffer or matrix in which the recombinant protein is supplied should be compatible with your ELISA assay. If necessary, dilute the standard in the same matrix as your samples to minimize matrix effects.

4. Stability: Store the recombinant protein according to the manufacturer's instructions to maintain its stability and activity.

5. Validation: Validate the use of the recombinant standard by comparing it with a commercially available standard, if possible, to ensure that it produces a reliable and reproducible standard curve.

By following these guidelines, you can effectively use recombinant Rat IL-7 Rα as a standard for quantification or calibration in your ELISA assays.

I need to clarify an important distinction regarding your query. The search results do not describe applications of recombinant rat IL-7Rα (the receptor) itself. Rather, they document extensive research on recombinant rat IL-7 (the cytokine ligand) and anti-IL-7Rα monoclonal antibodies (antagonistic reagents targeting the receptor).

Recombinant IL-7 Applications

Recombinant rat IL-7 has been validated in published research for the following applications:

Immunological Studies

Recombinant rat IL-7 has been employed to investigate T cell and B cell biology, including mechanisms of lymphocyte development, expansion, and survival. The protein functions as a hematopoietic cytokine that regulates naive and memory T cell populations and maintains lymphoid homeostasis through signaling via the IL-7 receptor complex composed of IL-7Rα and the common gamma chain.

Preclinical Disease Models

Research has demonstrated efficacy in multiple disease contexts, including viral infection models, tumor models, and immune reconstitution studies. Specifically, recombinant IL-7 administration has been shown to enhance immune responses against simian immunodeficiency virus infection, breast tumor invasion, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection, and other pathogenic challenges in murine systems.

Immune Recovery Applications

Recombinant IL-7 has been validated for restoring immunity in T cell-depleted hosts and enhancing recall responses during immune reconstitution from limited primed lymphocyte populations.

Anti-IL-7Rα Monoclonal Antibodies

Conversely, antagonistic anti-IL-7Rα monoclonal antibodies have been validated for suppressing pathogenic memory T cell responses in autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, including type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, and alopecia areata.

If your research specifically requires recombinant rat IL-7Rα protein (the extracellular domain or receptor itself), this would represent a different reagent with distinct applications in binding studies and receptor characterization, though such applications are not detailed in the provided search results.

To reconstitute and prepare recombinant rat IL-7 (not IL-7Rα, as IL-7Rα is the receptor; IL-7 is the cytokine) for cell culture experiments, follow these general guidelines based on manufacturer protocols and best practices for recombinant proteins:

Reconstitution of Recombinant Rat IL-7

1. Centrifuge the vial before opening to ensure all lyophilized powder is at the bottom.

2. Reconstitution Solution:

   • Most recombinant rat IL-7 proteins are reconstituted in sterile, distilled water or PBS.
   • For carrier-free versions, use sterile PBS or sterile water.
   • For versions with carrier protein (e.g., BSA), reconstitute in PBS containing at least 0.1% BSA to stabilize the protein.

3. Concentration:

   • Reconstitute to a concentration of 100 µg/mL (as recommended by several suppliers).
   • Example: For a 10 µg vial, add 100 µL of reconstitution buffer.

4. Procedure:

   • Pipette the buffer down the side of the vial to avoid foaming.
   • Do not vortex; gently swirl or rotate the vial until fully dissolved.
   • Allow the solution to sit for a few minutes to ensure complete dissolution.

5. Aliquoting and Storage:

   • Aliquot the reconstituted protein into small volumes to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
   • Store aliquots at -20°C to -80°C.
   • For short-term use, aliquots can be kept at 4°C for up to a week.

6. Working Dilution:

   • Dilute the stock solution in cell culture medium or buffer as needed for your experiment.
   • Typical working concentrations for cell culture range from 1 ng/mL to 100 ng/mL, depending on the cell type and experimental design.

Additional Tips

• Carrier Protein: If your application is sensitive to BSA (e.g., certain signaling assays), use a carrier-free version and add BSA only if necessary for stability.
• Sterility: Ensure all solutions and equipment are sterile to prevent contamination in cell culture.
• Endotoxin: Use low-endotoxin preparations for cell culture to avoid unintended immune activation.

Example Protocol

1. Centrifuge the vial for 1 minute at 1000 x g.
2. Reconstitute with 100 µL of sterile PBS (with or without 0.1% BSA, as appropriate).
3. Gently swirl until dissolved.
4. Aliquot into sterile tubes.
5. Store at -80°C.
6. Thaw aliquots on ice before use and dilute in culture medium.

Always refer to the specific product datasheet for any unique requirements or recommendations for your particular recombinant rat IL-7 protein.