The Human Interleukin 22 (IL-22) ELISA Kit is designed for the quantitative detection and measurement of human IL-22 in biological fluids such as serum, urine, and plasma. Primarily produced by activated T cells and NK cells, IL-22 binds to the heterodimeric cell surface receptors IL-10R2 and IL-22R1. Both receptors signal through components of the JAK-STAT pathway and activate MAPK and p38 pathways. IL-22 impacts non-hematopoietic epithelial cells and fibroblasts in skin, digestive, and respiratory tissues. As an effector cytokine of Th17 lineage, IL-22 regulates genes associated with innate immunity of the skin. IL-22 produces antimicrobial defenses of the epidermis by inducing a range of antimicrobial proteins, as well as increasing the mobility of keratinocytes.

The assay is based on a sandwich ELISA method, in which samples are added to ELISA strip plates pre-coated with capture antibodies specific for human IL-22. The captured IL-22 is detected by the addition of a horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated detection antibody. The addition of the chromogenic enzyme substrate 3,3’5,5’ tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) results in a colored product with an intensity directly proportional to the concentration of human IL-22 in the sample.