Recombinant human IL-1 beta protein

Summary

• Highly pure human protein (UniProt number: P01584) 
• >98%, by SDS-PAGE quantitative densitometry
• Source: Expressed in E. coli
• 17.3 kDa, monomer  
• Animal origin-free (AOF) and carrier protein-free
• Manufactured in Cambridge, UK
• Lyophilized from HEPES/NaCl/Cys
• Resuspend in water at >100 µg/ml, prepare single-use aliquots, add carrier protein if desired and store frozen at -20°C or -80°C

Featured applications

• Maintenance of hematopoietic progenitor cells 
• Activation of M2 macrophages 
• Activation of Th17 cells 
• Differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells 
• Differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts  
• Differentiation of neural stem cells into neurons and astrocytes 

Bioactivity

Purity

Recombinant IL-1β migrates as a major band at 17.4 kDa in non-reducing (NR) conditions. The higher molecular weight minor band is the dimeric form. Upon reduction (R), only the 17.4 kDa band is visible. No contaminating protein bands are present. Purified recombinant protein (3 µg) was resolved using 15% w/v SDS-PAGE in reduced (+β-mercaptothanol, R) and non-reduced (NR) conditions and stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R250. Data from Qk101 batch #204587.

Qkine IL-1 beta is slightly more biologically active than a comparable alternative supplier protein

Bioactivity was determined using a NFkB quantitative luciferase assay. HEK293T luciferase reporter cells were treated in triplicate with a serial dilution of Qkine IL-1 beta (Qk101, green) or an alternative supplier (supplier B, black) for 3 hours. Firefly luciferase activity is measured and normalized to control Renilla luciferase activity. Data from Qk101 lot #204581.

Protein background

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and a member of the interleukin-1 family, including IL-1α [1]–[4]. IL-1β is a potent mediator of inflammation and immune responses. It plays a key role in initiating and amplifying the inflammatory cascade in response to infection, injury, or other pathological conditions [2], [5], [6]. It promotes the activation and recruitment of immune cells, such as antigen-presenting cells, macrophages, and T lymphocytes, to sites of infection or injury and induces fever [3], [5]. IL-1β also stimulates the production of acute-phase proteins in the liver, contributing to systemic responses during inflammation, such as blood clotting and tissue repair [1], [7].

In cell culture, IL-1 beta is used to stimulate various immune cells (macrophages, monocytes, and T cells) as well as epithelial cells, endothelial cells and fibroblasts [1], [8]. IL-1β inhibits the B cell differentiation and promotes the proliferation, survival, and polarization of macrophages towards the M2 phenotype and CD4+ T cells towards T helper type 1 and 17 (Th1 and Th17) cells  [5], [9], [10]. IL-1β mimics the effects of inflammation along with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and promotes the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and other inflammatory mediators [2], [11]. IL-1 beta is also used to maintain mesenchymal stromal cells and hematopoietic progenitor cells and to modulate the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts, neural stem cells into neurons and astrocytes, and endothelial cells [12], [13].

IL-1β is produced primarily by activated macrophages and monocytes, as well as epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and specific fibroblasts, in response to various stimuli such as infection, tissue damage, or stress. IL-1β is a protein composed of 153 amino acids. It is synthesized as an inactive precursor, pro-IL-1β, which requires cleavage by the enzyme caspase-1 to become active [1]. The activity of IL-1β is tightly regulated to prevent excessive inflammation. In addition to the cleavage of pro-IL-1β by caspase-1, other regulatory mechanisms, such as IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and soluble receptors, modulate IL-1β signaling [6]. IL-1β is characterized by a beta-trefoil fold, six antiparallel beta-strands arranged in a threefold symmetric pattern. IL-1 beta binds to specific cell surface receptors, primarily the IL-1 receptor type 1 (IL-1R1) and IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-1RAcP) [5], [14]. This binding triggers a signaling cascade, leading to the activation of transcription factors and the expression of pro-inflammatory genes.

Dysregulation of IL-1β is associated with various chronic inflammatory diseases, including autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease [5], [15]. IL-1β may also support the tumour development by increasing tumour-associated macrophages and sustaining chronic inflammation and metastasis [5]. Therapeutic interventions targeting IL-1β, such as IL-1β inhibitors, have been developed for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.

Background references

1. C. A. Dinarello, “Interleukin-1,” Cytokine Growth Factor Rev., vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 253–265, Dec. 1997, doi: 10.1016/S1359-6101(97)00023-3.
2. C. A. Dinarello, “The biological properties of interleukin-1,” Eur. Cytokine Netw., vol. 5, no. 6, pp. 517–531, Nov. 1994.
3. A. S. Yazdi and K. Ghoreschi, “The Interleukin-1 Family,” in Regulation of Cytokine Gene Expression in Immunity and Diseases, X. Ma, Ed., in Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. , Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2016, pp. 21–29. doi: 10.1007/978-94-024-0921-5_2
4. L. Feldmeyer, S. Werner, L. E. French, and H.-D. Beer, “Interleukin-1, inflammasomes and the skin,” Eur. J. Cell Biol., vol. 89, no. 9, pp. 638–644, Sep. 2010, doi: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2010.04.008
5. R. Bent, L. Moll, S. Grabbe, and M. Bros, “Interleukin-1 Beta—A Friend or Foe in Malignancies?,” Int. J. Mol. Sci., vol. 19, no. 8, Art. no. 8, Aug. 2018, doi: 10.3390/ijms19082155
6. R. M. Friedlander, V. Gagliardini, R. J. Rotello, and J. Yuan, “Functional role of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) in IL-1 beta-converting enzyme-mediated apoptosis.,” J. Exp. Med., vol. 184, no. 2, pp. 717–724, Aug. 1996, doi: 10.1084/jem.184.2.717
7. H. Tilg, E. Vannier, G. Vachino, C. A. Dinarello, and J. W. Mier, “Antiinflammatory properties of hepatic acute phase proteins: preferential induction of interleukin 1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist over IL-1 beta synthesis by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.,” J. Exp. Med., vol. 178, no. 5, pp. 1629–1636, Nov. 1993, doi: 10.1084/jem.178.5.1629
8. S. Sisson and C. Dinarello, “Production of interleukin-1 alpha, interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor by human mononuclear cells stimulated with granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor [see comments],” Blood, vol. 72, no. 4, pp. 1368–1374, Oct. 1988, doi: 10.1182/blood.V72.4.1368.1368
9. Y. Chung et al., “Critical regulation of early Th17 cell differentiation by IL-1 signaling,” Immunity, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 576–587, Apr. 2009, doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2009.02.007
10. P. Luz-Crawford et al., “Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Promotes Macrophage Polarization and Inhibits B Cell Differentiation,” Stem Cells, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 483–492, Feb. 2016, doi: 10.1002/stem.2254
11. S. A. Steer, A. L. Scarim, K. T. Chambers, and J. A. Corbett, “Interleukin-1 Stimulates β-Cell Necrosis and Release of the Immunological Adjuvant HMGB1,” PLOS Med., vol. 3, no. 2, p. e17, Dec. 2005, doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0030017
12. A. McClellan, R. Evans, C. Sze, S. Kan, Y. Paterson, and D. Guest, “A novel mechanism for the protection of embryonic stem cell derived tenocytes from inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1 beta,” Sci. Rep., vol. 9, no. 1, Art. no. 1, Feb. 2019, doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-39370-4
13. A. E. Bigildeev, E. A. Zezina, I. N. Shipounova, and N. J. Drize, “Interleukin-1 beta enhances human multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell proliferative potential and their ability to maintain hematopoietic precursor cells,” Cytokine, vol. 71, no. 2, pp. 246–254, Feb. 2015, doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2014.10.018
14. B. Mosley et al., “The interleukin-1 receptor binds the human interleukin-1 alpha precursor but not the interleukin-1 beta precursor.,” J. Biol. Chem., vol. 262, no. 7, pp. 2941–2944, Mar. 1987, doi: 10.1016/S0021-9258(18)61450-4.
15. K. Maedler, G. Dharmadhikari, D. M. Schumann, and J. Størling, “Interleukin-1 beta targeted therapy for type 2 diabetes,” Expert Opin. Biol. Ther., vol. 9, no. 9, pp. 1177–1188, Sep. 2009, doi: 10.1517/14712590903136688.