Description
The interferons (IFN)s are a family of cytokines with potent antiviral, antitumor, and immunomodulatory properties. Interferons are increasingly used clinically to treat a range of malignancies, myelodysplasias and autoimmune diseases. Interferons are divided into type I, II, and III. Type I IFNs (IFN-α and IFN-β) are most abundant in number, distribution, and expression.
IFN- β (interferon β) belongs to type 1 interferon family. Human IFN- β expression and secretion is primarily induced by signaling from pattern recognition receptors such as Toll-like (TLR) and RIG-I-like receptors (RLR). Overall, IFN beta is part of the first wave of cytokine response in cells. Pathogen infection can result in the activation of interferon regulatory factor (IRF3) that functions in trans to activate IFN beta gene transcription. IFN beta is biologically unique when compared to other interferons. Studies have shown that IFN beta has overlapping and distinct gene expression patterns as compared to IFN alpha. It appears that IFN beta binds to the Type I IFN receptor (INFAR) with higher affinity than other Type I IFNs and that it may also regulate receptor internalization in a different manner.

 Full Name
Interferon beta

Source
E. coli

Species
Human

Accession #
P01574

 Molecule Weight
The mature recombinant human IFN- β is a 20 kDa protein (22-187aa).

Purity
> 95 % as determined by SDS-PAGE

Endotoxin
< 0.1 EU per μg of the protein as determined by the LAL method

Activity
Measured in anti-viral assays using HeLa human cervical epithelial carcinoma cells infected with encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus. The ED50 for this effect is 5-30 pg/mL. 
The specific activity of Recombinant Human IFN-beta is approximately 2.8 x 108 IU/mg, which is calibrated against human IFN- beta WHO International Standard (NIBSC code: 00/572).

Storage
-80     Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Storage Buffer
PBS