IL-6 receptor alpha (IL-6Ra) is a transmembrane subunit of the receptor for Interleukin-6. IL-6 is crucial for the development of the acute phase response, inflammation, hematopoiesis, bone metabolism, and cancer 1. Acute inflammation is triggered by IL-6, and it then progresses to either acquired immunity or chronic inflammation 2-3. It contributes to inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, insulin resistance, arthritis, sepsis, and atherosclerosis when it is dysregulated 4-5.

This assay is a quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The microtiter plate is pre-coated with a polyclonal antibody specific for mouse IL-6Ra. Standards and samples are pipetted into the wells and any mouse IL-6Ra present is bound by the immobilized antibody. After washing away any unbound substances, a biotin labelled polyclonal antibody specific for mouse IL-6Ra is added to the wells. After wash step to remove any unbound reagents, streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate (STP-HRP) is added. After the last wash step, an HRP substrate solution is added and color develops in proportion to the amount of mouse IL-6Ra bound initially. The assay is stopped, and the optical density of the wells is determined using a microplate reader. Since the increases in absorbance are directly proportional to the amount of captured mouse IL-6Ra, the unknown sample concentration can be interpolated from a reference curve included in each assay.

This Mouse IL-6Ra ELISA kit is designed for quantification of mouse IL-6Ra in serum, plasma and cell culture supernate samples.