4-1BB(CD137) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family. Its alternative names are tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 9 (TNFRSF9), 4-1BB and induced by lymphocyte activation (ILA). Mature human 4-1BB consists of a 163 amino acid extracellular domain (ECD) with four TNFR cysteine-rich repeats, a 27 aa transmembrane segment, and a 42 aa cytoplasmic domain; 4-1BB (CD137) is expressed as a disulfide-linked homodimer on various populations of activated T cell including CD4+, CD8+, memory CD8+, NKT, and regulatory T cells as well as on myeloid and mast cell progenitors, dendritic cells, mast cells, and bacterially infected osteoblasts. It binds with high affinity to the transmembrane 4-1BB Ligand/TNFSF9 which is expressed on antigen presenting cells and myeloid progenitor cells. This interaction co stimulates the proliferation, activation, and/or survival of the 4-1BB expressing cell. It can also enhance the activation-induced cell death of repetitively stimulated T cells.
Recombinant Human 4-1BB(CD137) Fc Chimera produced in CHO cells is a polypeptide chain containing 397 amino acids with the C-termimal human IgG1 Fc fragment. A fully biologically active molecule, rh4-1BB has a molecular mass of 55-60 kDa analyzed by reducing SDS-PAGE and is obtained by chromatographic techniques at GenScript.