INTENDED USE & DESCRIPTION
For use as quantitative controls for the determination of cytokine concentrations in biological fluids. Concentrations have been assigned using R&D Systems’ Quantikine® kits. Controls are prepared in a buffered protein solution with preservatives. They contain recombinant human cytokines at low, medium and high concentrations. Controls are supplied lyophilized.
STORAGE & STABILITY
Unreconstituted Controls should be stored at 2-8 °C and are stable for at least 6 months from date of receipt. Depending on the analyte of interest, reconstituted controls may be stable when stored at
REAGENT PREPARATION
Reconstitute each vial with the volume of deionized or distilled water indicated on the product datasheet.
PROCEDURE & EXPECTED VALUES
Controls should be assayed in the same manner as unknown specimens.
The acceptable ranges for the analytes in these controls are printed on the product datasheet. Due to possible variations in techniques and methodologies, it is recommended that each laboratory determine its own target range. Laboratories using other test systems should establish their own acceptable ranges as these assays may produce different values.
TECHNICAL HINTS & LIMITATIONS OF THE PROCEDURE
• The ranges were determined using R&D Systems’ Quantikine kits. If expected values are not obtained, verify that the lot numbers on the vials correspond with the lot numbers listed above and the correct volume of deionized or distilled water was used for reconstitution of the controls.
• The results obtained with these controls depend upon several factors associated with methods and instrumentation. Test systems other than those supplied by R&D Systems may result in values that differ from those printed on this product datasheet.
Activins, members of the TGF-beta superfamily, are disulfide-linked dimeric proteins originally purified from gonadal fluids as proteins that stimulated pituitary follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) release. Activin proteins have a wide range of biological activities, including mesoderm induction, neural cell differentiation, bone remodeling, hematopoiesis and roles in reproductive physiology. Activin isoforms and other members of the TGF-beta superfamily exert their biological effects by binding to heteromeric complexes of a type I and a type II serine-threonine kinase receptor, both of which are essential for signal transduction.
Activins are homodimers or heterodimers of the various beta subunit isoforms, while inhibins are heterodimers of a unique alpha subunit and one of the various beta subunits. Five beta subunits (mammalian beta A, beta B, beta C, beta E and Xenopus beta D) have been cloned to date. The activin/inhibin nomenclature reflects the subunit composition of the proteins: Activin A (beta A - beta A), Activin B (beta B - beta B), Activin AB (beta A - beta B), Inhibin A (alpha - beta A) and Inhibin B (alpha - beta B).
