Human IL-37/IL-1F7 Antibody

Human Interleukin 1 Family Member 7 (IL-1F7), also named IL-37, FIL-1Z, IL-1H4, and IL-1RP1, belongs to the IL-1 cytokine family.  With the exception of IL-18 that maps to human chromosome 11, all other IL-1 family members map to the same cluster on human chromosome 2. Five alternatively spliced transcripts that arise through alternate exon usage have been described. These transcripts encode five different IL-1F7 isoforms (IL-1F7a through e also referred to as isofoms 1 through 5) that have distinct expression profiles. Polymorphism in the protein sequence of IL-1F7 isoforms also exists. Like IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-18, all of the IL-1F7 variants lack a typical signal peptide. The longest IL-1F7 transcript, referred to as IL-1F7b or IL-1F7 isoform 1, encodes a 218 amino acid (aa) residues proprotein containing a 45 aa propeptide, which is removed by caspase-1 to generate the 173 aa mature segment. Mature IL-1F7b and other IL-1F7 variants lack potential N-linked glycosylation sites. IL-1F7 shares approximately 21%, 24%, and 30% aa sequence identity with mature IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-1ra, respectively. Mouse IL-1F7 has not been reported, but human IL-1F7 is active on mouse cells. IL-1F7b binds to IL-18 R alpha with low affinity but does not exert any IL-18 agonistic or antagonistic effects. IL-1F7b also binds to the IL-18BP to enhance the antagonistic effects of IL-18BP. It has been proposed that IL-1F7b form a trimeric complex with IL-18BP and IL-18 R beta. This complex blocks IL-18 activity by sequestering the signal transducing subunit and preventing it from participating in IL-18 signaling (1‑8).