Interferon α from rat

General description
Interferon α is a cytokine, that belongs to type I interferon (IFNs) family.[1] It possesses 14 genes, including 2 pseudo-genes or allelic forms that encodes for 13 proteins.[2] It is mainly induced in response to viral infection.[1] It is a non-leukemogenic peptide.[2] Biochem/physiol Actions
Cytokine with anti-viral, anti-proliferative, immunoregulatory, and proinflammatory activities.
Cytokine with anti-viral, anti-proliferative, immunoregulatory, and proinflammatory activities. Type I Interferons are a closely related family of 165-172 amino acid proteins that are produced by leukocytes (α subtypes), fibroblasts (β subtypes), lymphocytes (ω subtypes) and ruminant embryos (τ subtypes). Interferon induces a variety of effects on target cells including antiviral, antiproliferative and immunomodulatory activities.
Interferon α play a key role in the inhibition of in vitro proliferation of hematopoietic progenitors.[2] It mediates the regulation of gene expression that is responsible for development and functionality of innate and adaptive immunity.[3] It has been used as myelosuppressive agent for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).[2] Physical form
Lyophilized from a solution containing citric acid buffered saline (CBS pH 5.0) and 125 mM trehalose
Analysis Note
The biological activity is determined in the cytopathic effect inhibition assay using rat epithelial-like (RATEC) cells with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in the presence of 2mM glutathione. The cytopathic effect of 50% is produced with ~1 unit/mL interferon. Since there is no international rat interferon α standard, units are determined with respect to the NIH international standard reference for mouse interferon α/β.