CXCL8 recombinant proteins refer to engineered versions of the CXCL8 protein, also known as Interleukin-8 (IL-8). CXCL8 is a chemokine involved in the inflammatory response, primarily functioning to attract and activate neutrophils. Recombinant CXCL8 proteins are widely used in research to study inflammation, immune responses, and in the development of therapeutics targeting inflammatory diseases.

Structure and Function

• CXCL8 is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family, characterized by its ability to bind to the CXCR1 and CXCR2 receptors on neutrophils.
• It plays a crucial role in the immune system by inducing chemotaxis of neutrophils to sites of infection or injury, promoting inflammation.
• The recombinant form of CXCL8 retains its ability to bind to these receptors and activate downstream signaling pathways involved in immune responses.

Production

• CXCL8 recombinant proteins are typically produced in bacterial systems like E. coli due to the simplicity and high yield of production, though mammalian or yeast systems can be used when post-translational modifications are required.
• The gene encoding CXCL8 is cloned into an expression vector, expressed, and then purified using affinity chromatography techniques, often utilizing tags like His-tag for easy purification.

Applications

• Research: Recombinant CXCL8 is extensively used to study neutrophil chemotaxis, signal transduction, and the role of chemokines in various inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Drug Development: It is used in high-throughput screening assays to identify inhibitors of CXCL8 or its receptors (CXCR1/CXCR2), aiming to develop anti-inflammatory therapies.
• Diagnostics: CXCL8 levels in biological fluids are measured using recombinant proteins as standards in ELISA and other immunoassays, helping to diagnose and monitor inflammatory conditions.

Validation and Quality Control

• onitor inflammatory conditions.

• Recombinant CXCL8 proteins are validated for purity and identity using techniques like SDS-PAGE and Western blotting.
• Functional assays, such as neutrophil chemotaxis assays or receptor-binding studies, ensure that the recombinant protein is biologically active and capable of inducing the expected immune responses.