Description
Introduction: Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is a heterodimeric cytokine belonging to the IL-12 family that is composed of two subunits, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced gene 3 (EBI3) (also known as IL-27B) and IL27-p28 (known as IL-30). IL-27 is produced by antigen-presenting cells. IL-27 plays an important function in regulating the activity of B and T lymphocytes. The effects of IL-27 are eliciting by its interaction with a specific cell surface receptor complex composed of two proteins known as WSX-1 (TCCR) and gp130. IL-27 binds and signals through a heterodimeric receptor complex consisting of WSX-1 and gp130, both belonging to the cytokine receptor superfamily. WSX-1 is specific for IL-27 and is expressed on resting/naive CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, NK cells, dendritic cells, monocytes, mast cells, and B cells. In contrast, gp130 is ubiquitously expressed by a variety of immune and non-immune cells and functions as a subunit of the receptor complexes for at least seven other cytokines. IL-27 has both pro- and anti-inflammatory properties. In response to infection, IL-27 induces monocytes and mast cells to secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines. It induces naive CD4+ T cells to proliferate and develop Th1 cell responses. IL-27 also promotes effector functions of NK cells and CD8+ T cells. As an anti-inflammatory immunomodulator, IL-27 has been found to have the ability to inhibit Th1 or Th2 responses and restrict the strength and duration of adaptive immune responses.
Principle of the Assay: The microtiter plate provided in this kit has been pre-coated with an antibody specific to IL-27. Standards or samples are then added to the appropriate microtiter plate wells with a biotin-conjugated antibody preparation specific for IL-27 and Avidin conjugated to Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP) is added to each microplate well and incubated. Then a TMB (3,3',5,5' tetramethyl-benzidine) substrate solution is added to each well. Only those wells that contain IL-27, biotin-conjugated antibody and enzyme-conjugated Avidin will exhibit a change in color. The enzyme-substrate reaction is terminated by the addition of a sulphuric acid solution and the color change is measured spectrophotometrically at a wavelength of 450 nm +/- 2 nm. The concentration of IL-27 in the samples is then determined by comparing the O.D. of the samples to the standard curve