Antibody News

Peroxisome proliferators are non-genotoxic carcinogens which are purported to exert their effect on cells by interacting with members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily known as peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs). There are four of these nuclear hormone receptors known to date, and they are ligand-dependent intracellular proteins that stimulate downstream gene transcription of genes such as acyl coenzyme A oxidase and cytochrome P450 (CYP450). Activation occurs through direct binding to specific DNA response elements following activation by an appropriate ligand. PPARs have pleiotropic effects upon a wide range of cellular functions including vascular tone, inflammation and energy homeostasis. Because of this, PPARs are important targets to consider in therapies for hypertension, obesity, and metabolic syndromes.

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SHARP1 encodes a transcription repressor factor that belongs to the Hairy/Enhancer of the Split subfamily of basic helix-loop-helix factors (bHLH). Sequence alignment shows that SHARP1 is only distantly related to these proteins with a 37-42% sequence identity within its bHLH domain. Unlike most other bHLH proteins, SHARP-1 is not expressed in neuronal progenitor cells or early differentiating neurons but is instead restricted to neuronal subset within the postnatal central nervous system (CNS). SHARP1 appears to play a regulatory role in the clockwork system integrating with Clock and Bmal1. Mutations in this gene (designated hDEC2-P385R) are associated with short sleep phenotypes in both humans and mice, resulting in elevated levels of vigilance time and concomitant decreases in sleep time.

CD73 is a 70kD glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored cell surface molecule that belongs to the 5'-nucleosidase family. It hydrolyzes extracellular nucleotides into membrane permeable nucleosides and is found as both a membrane-bound and soluble molecule. Because it is abundantly expressed on vascular endothelium and some lymphocyte subpopulations, CD73 is a useful lymphocyte differentiation marker. Like many other GPI-anchored molecules, it transmits T-cell activation signals upon ligand engagement. CD73 functions as a co-stimulatory molecule in human T-cells for both proliferation and activation, and also appears to modulate lymphocyte adhesion. Furthermore, the ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity itself is an important mediator of anti-inflammation because it converts extracellular AMP into adenosine which is a potent anti-inflammatory trigger. 

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CD90 is a 25-35kD glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked glycoprotein receptor of the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily. It is found on murine T-cells, thymocytes, neuronal cells, granulocytic lineage-derived cells, hematopoietic stem cells, fibroblasts, neurons, and Kupffer's cells. CD90 is often used as a marker for a variety of stem cells and mature neuronal axon processes.  CD90 appears to play a role in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and adhesion during synaptogenesis, nerve regeneration, apoptosis and necrosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and metastasis.

Flow cytometry studies with the CD90 antibody were used by Mayani et al to phenotype cord blood cells (1). Those researchers correlated CD90 expression to the highest levels of proliferative potential...

CD16 is a lymphocyte Fc gamma type III low-affinity receptor for IgG and is represented by two similar genes, CD16A (Fc gamma RIII A) and CD16B (Fc gamma RIIIB). CD16A exists as a heterooligomeric polypeptide-anchored form in macrophages and NK cells. CD16B exists as a monomeric glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored form in neutrophils. CD16 binds IgG in the form of immune complexes or free antibody. It exhibits preferential binding to IgG1 and IgG3 isotypes, with minimal binding of IgG2 and IgG4. Upon IgG binding, both CD16 isoforms initiate signaling cascades that produce a diverse variety of responses including antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), phagocytosis, degranulation, and proliferation. CD16 is expressed on macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells and neutrophils. Their expression is constitutive, although cytokines and lymphokines can modulate their expression levels.

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Troponin I is part of a heteromeric thin filament regulatory complex that is responsible for modulating skeletal and cardiac muscle contraction. Troponin complex consists of three subunits: troponin I (TnI), troponin T (TnT), and troponin C (TnC). Each of these subunits has a different role in the function of the complex. In particular, TnI is the inhibitory component, and confers calcium-sensitivity to the ATPase activity of the myofibril contractile apparatus within striated muscles. By blocking actin-myosin interactions, it regulates muscle relaxation. TnI is encoded by three different genes to produce isoforms that are preferentially expressed as follows: TnI Type 1 (skeletal-slow-twitch), TnI Type 2 (skeletal-fast-twitch), and TnI Type 3 (cardiac). As their names imply, TnI Types 1 and 2 are only expressed in either fast-twitch or slow-twitch skeletal muscle fibers, respectively.

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Troponin I is part of a heteromeric thin filament regulatory complex that governs skeletal and cardiac muscle contraction. Troponin I is composed of three subunits: troponin I (TnI), troponin T (TnT), and troponin C (TnC), and each of these components plays a different functional role. For example, TnI is an inhibitory component, and confers calcium-sensitivity to the ATPase activity of the myofibril contractile apparatus within striated muscles. Through blocking actin-myosin interactions, TnI modulates muscle relaxation. TnI itself is actually encoded by three different genes which produce tissue-specific isoforms as follows: TnI Type 1 (skeletal-slow-twitch), TnI Type 2 (skeletal-fast-twitch), and TnI Type 3 (cardiac). As their nomenclature implies, TnI Types 1 and 2 are expressed solely in fast- or slow-twitch...

CD86 belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily of proteins that drive innate and adaptive immune responses. It is an 80kD co-stimulatory molecule for the priming and activation of naive and memory T-cells, respectively. CD86 is expressed on activated B- and T- cells, monocytes/macrophages, dendritic cells, and astrocytes. Engagement of CD28 with B7-1 and B7-2 ligands on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) stimulates T-cell activation and triggering of key pro-inflammatory cytokine responses through NF-kB, while subsequent engagement of CTLA-4 (also known as CD152) with these same ligands results in response attenuation. CD86 has also been shown to be involved in immunoglobulin class-switching and triggering of NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

With their central function in immune...

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the external framework found between individual cells that comprise higher order structures like tissues and organs. The ECM composition of vertebrates is dominated by a class of molecules known as collagens - each with unique features suited for a particular function and location. Collagen proteins are made up of three subunit polypeptides that vary in length. Through a unique repeated (Gly-X-Y) sequence, these components associate to form a structurally regular triple helix. Collagen type I is one of the most common collagen forms and is found in a wide variety of areas including skin, tendon, vascular ligature, organs, and bone. Because of collagen I’s basic and fundamental role in guiding ECM architecture, its identification and detection is useful in the classification and verification of tissue-specific origins, and sample tissue typing.

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CD68 belongs to a growing family of hematopoietic mucin-like molecules known as lysosomal/endosomal-associated membrane glycoproteins (LAMPs). Other LAMP family members included leukosialin, stem cell antigen CD34, and GlyCAM-1. CD68 encodes a 110-kD transmembrane glycoprotein with high levels of expression in human monocytes and tissue macrophages. CD68 binds lectins through a heavily glycosylated extracellular domain. It has also been found to be a member of the scavenger receptor family, whose main purpose is to clear cell debris, regulate phagocytosis, and recruit macrophages. CD68 transcripts are absent or present at very low levels in many hematopoietic lines, but can be induced by exposure to phorbol myristic acid (PMA/TPA).

Horny et al employed the CD68 antibody to distinguish between normal and neoplastic human monocytes, mast cells, and macrophages1. Their findings provide valuable diagnostic...

FLT3 is a Type III tyrosine kinase cell surface receptor found on primitive bone marrow stem cells. The FLT3 ligand is a hematopoietic growth factor that stimulates cells via a set of structurally related tyrosine kinase receptors.  This FLT3 Ligand promotes the differentiation of multiple hematopoietic cell lineages and is expressed as a non-covalently-linked dimer by T-cells, bone marrow, and thymic fibroblasts. Downstream events in the FLT3 pathway include the expansion of monocytes and immature dendritic cells, B-cell differentiation, natural killer (NK) cell development, and myeloid differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells.

Because FLT3 overexpression and mutations are highly associated with...

GH is a member of the large family of growth factors that includes prolactin, placental lactogens, proliferins, and somatolactin. Additionally, GH is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored, and secreted by somatotropic cells within the lateral wings of the anterior pituitary gland. Release of GH into the circulation is mediated by the concerted actions of the hypothalamic hormones-GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin (SST), as well as through signals from the periphery-ghrelin and leptin. At least four alternatively spliced isoforms of GH are known. It is a multipotent and fundamental peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and regeneration (see Matsuzaki et al for review) 1. Body growth stimulation occurs through the primary pathway of stimulating the liver (and other tissues) to secrete IGF-1.

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