This is a research-grade, unconjugated recombinant analog of ipilimumab, a fully human IgG1 kappa antibody directed against human CTLA-4. It is supplied for research use only as a non-therapeutic reagent and is not the clinical drug; it is not intended for human or veterinary use. Because it reproduces the antigen-binding specificity of the originator against CTLA-4, it is useful as a defined, lot-consistent tool for in-vitro and preclinical studies of checkpoint biology: as a positive binding/blocking control, a benchmarking reference in competitive assays, a capture or detection reagent, and a starting scaffold for ADCC, ADC, or engineering workflows. The human IgG1 backbone supports Fc-dependent readouts such as ADCC and complement engagement where relevant. Material is offered at research-grade low endotoxin (typically <1 EU/mg, with ultra-low <0.5 EU/mg options) and in bulk milligram-to-gram quantities, making it suitable for assay development, screening, and scale-dependent functional work where reproducible checkpoint-blocking reference material is needed.
CTLA-4 (CD152) is an inhibitory immune checkpoint receptor expressed on activated conventional T cells and constitutively on regulatory T cells (Tregs). It shares the ligands CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2) with the co-stimulatory receptor CD28 but binds them with substantially higher affinity, outcompeting CD28 and dampening T-cell activation. CTLA-4 acts largely during the priming phase in secondary lymphoid tissue, raising the threshold for activation and contributing to peripheral tolerance; it can also physically remove B7 ligands from antigen-presenting cells by trans-endocytosis. On Tregs, CTLA-4 is central to their suppressive function. Antibody blockade of CTLA-4 releases this inhibition and can enhance effector T-cell responses and, via Fc-mediated mechanisms, deplete intratumoral Tregs, which underlies its interest in antitumor immunity research. Encoded by CTLA4; UniProt P16410.