Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is the sole member of the type II interferon category. It is a potent multifunctional cytokine involved in both the innate and adaptive (especially cell-mediated) arms of immunity. It is secreted largely by activated lymphocytes, in particular, CD4+ Th1 cells, CD8+ cytotoxic cells, and NK cells.Human IFN-gamma is expressed as a pre-cursor protein with a signaling peptide which is cleaved to produce the mature protein of ~17 kD. Its active form is a homodimer, linked by anti-parallel non-covalent interactions between the six alpha-helices of each monomer. The receptor for IFN-gamma is also a homodimer, with alpha & beta subunits (IFNGR1 and IFNGR2, respectively). IFN-gamma binds to IFNGR1 very specifically, and the subsequent interaction of IFNGR1 with IFNGR2 activates the Jak/Stat pathway for signal transduction and, ultimately, transcription of effector genes. Rat IFN-gamma has 87% amino acid identity with mouse IFN-gamma and 39% identity with the human protein. As such, rat IFN-gamma can activate mouse cells but not human cells.Originally characterized based on anti-viral properties, IFN-gamma also exerts anti-microbial, anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, and pro-inflammatory activities. It is unique among the interferons for its ability to coordinate the transition from innate to adaptive immunity. Among its more significant roles, IFN-gamma stimulates macrophage effector functions. It is also the major player in inducing Th1 cell differentiation and provides a positive feedback loop in response to IL-12 stimulation in defining Th1 cells.BioLegend's LEGEND MAX(TM) Rat IFN-gamma ELISA Kit is a sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), in which, a rat IFN-gamma-specific monoclonal antibody is pre-coated on a 96-well strip-well plate.BioLegend's LEGEND MAX(TM) Rat IFN-gamma ELISA Kit is specifically designed for the accurate quantitation of rat IFN-gamma from cell culture supernatant, serum, plasma or other bodily fluids. It is ready-to-use, accurate, and sensitive.