IL-16
IL-16 (interleukin 16, formerly lymphocyte chemoattractant factor, LCF) is a pleiotropic cytokine that acts as a chemoattractant, modulates T cell activation and inhibits HIV replication. It is made as the precursor pro-interleukin-16 (prIL-16), which is proteolytically processed into two functional proteins. Browse Assay Genie's current range of IL-16 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
IL-16 is a pleiotropic cytokine with roles as a chemoattractant, a modulator of T cell activation and an inhibitor of HIV replication. Its signalling is mediated by CD4. The protein is synthesised as a precursor, pro-interleukin-16, which undergoes proteolytic processing to yield two functional proteins. Caspase 3 is reported to be involved in this cleavage.
The two products have distinct roles. The cytokine function is attributed exclusively to the secreted C-terminal peptide. The N-terminal product may instead play a part in cell cycle control. In UniProt, isoform 3 is described as involved in cell cycle progression in T-cells and appears to take part in transcriptional regulation of SKP2, probably as part of a transcriptional repression complex on the core promoter of the SKP2 gene. It may act as a scaffold for GABPB1, the DNA-binding subunit of the GABP transcription factor complex, and HDAC3, maintaining transcriptional repression and blocking cell cycle progression in resting T-cells.
The IL16 gene is placed by HGNC in the interleukin and PDZ domain containing gene groups, and alternate splicing gives multiple transcript variants. Its previous name was interleukin 16 (lymphocyte chemoattractant factor), and aliases include LCF, prIL-16, HsT19289, FLJ42735 and FLJ16806. The protein is reported in secreted, cytoplasmic and nuclear locations, consistent with its dual extracellular and intracellular functions, and a mouse ortholog, Il16, is recorded.
IL-16 modulates T cell activation, and its N-terminal product is linked to cell cycle progression in resting T-cells.
The secreted C-terminal peptide acts as a chemoattractant and signals through CD4, making IL-16 relevant to studies of leukocyte migration.
IL-16 is described as an inhibitor of HIV replication, giving it a place in studies of CD4-mediated antiviral mechanisms.
The pro-IL-16 N-terminal product may regulate SKP2 transcription through a repression complex involving GABPB1 and HDAC3.
IL-16 is a pleiotropic cytokine that functions as a chemoattractant, modulates T cell activation and inhibits HIV replication. Its signalling is mediated by CD4. The cytokine activity is attributed to the secreted C-terminal peptide, while the N-terminal product may contribute to cell cycle control.
IL-16 was formerly called lymphocyte chemoattractant factor (LCF), and the precursor is named pro-interleukin-16 (prIL-16). Other aliases include HsT19289, FLJ42735 and FLJ16806. Alternate splicing produces multiple transcript variants, and proteolytic processing, involving caspase 3, yields two functional proteins.
A mouse ortholog, Il16, is recorded for the human IL16 gene, so the cytokine can be studied in mouse models. Reactivity of any reagent against a given species varies, so check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other interleukins and immune-signalling cytokines with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q14005; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.