Human IL6ST Stable Cell Line - Ba/F3

IL6ST, also known as glycoprotein 130 (gp130) or CD130, is the shared signal-transducing subunit for the interleukin-6 family of cytokines, which includes IL-6, IL-11, leukemia inhibitory factor, oncostatin M, ciliary neurotrophic factor, and cardiotrophin-1. This transmembrane protein does not directly bind cytokines on its own but instead forms high-affinity receptor complexes with cytokine-specific alpha subunits, thereby activating downstream JAK/STAT and MAPK signaling pathways. The Human IL6ST Stable Cell Line - Ba/F3 is generated by stably transfecting the murine interleukin-3-dependent pro-B cell line Ba/F3 with a human IL6ST expression construct. Parental Ba/F3 cells do not express endogenous gp130 and are unresponsive to IL-6 family cytokines. Upon stable expression of human IL6ST, these engineered cells acquire the ability to proliferate in response to cytokines that signal through gp130, such as IL-6 in combination with soluble IL-6R, as well as IL-11 and other IL-6 family members.

This stable cell line serves as a valuable functional tool for a wide range of research applications. It is commonly used in cytokine signaling studies to investigate the biological activity of IL-6 family ligands and to evaluate the potency and specificity of neutralizing antibodies, receptor agonists, or antagonists targeting the gp130 signaling axis. In drug discovery settings, the Human IL6ST Ba/F3 cell line enables high-throughput screening of small-molecule inhibitors or biologics that modulate IL-6/IL-6R/gp130 interactions, particularly in the context of inflammatory diseases, autoimmune disorders, and certain cancers where gp130-mediated signaling is dysregulated. Additionally, this cell line is employed in mechanism-of-action studies to dissect the functional consequences of IL6ST mutations, assess receptor dimerization requirements, and characterize the cross-reactivity of therapeutic candidates across species.