Articles with antibody catalogue

How the HIF-1 beta antibody aids vascular research

The Hypoxia Inducible Factors are a family of dimeric transcriptional regulators which play an important role in oxidative homeostasis during hypoxic conditions. HIF-1 is composed of alpha and beta subunits, represented by HIF-1 alpha and HIF-1 beta antibody products, both of which are well represented on our antibody database.

HIF-1 is an oxygen-sensitive complex, essential to hypoxic regulation during embryonic vascular development. In humans, the HIF-1 alpha subunit is encoded by the HIF1A gene, whereas the HIF-1 beta subunit is encoded by the ARNT (Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator) gene.

In normoxic conditions, the two subunits are dissociated. HIF-1 beta is located in the nucleus, and HIF-1 alpha in the cytoplasm, where it is rapidly degraded following HIF prolyl-hydroxylase activation. During hypoxia, HIF prolyl-hydroxylase is inhibited, leading to an increase in HIF-1 alpha levels. The alpha subunit then translocates to the nucleus, forming a stable HIF-1 dimer with the HIF-1 beta subunit.

Recent HIF-1 research has indicated HIF-1 stabilisation during hypoxia promotes mRNA stabilization and upregulation of a number of genes, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This protein protects the growing embryo during periods of inadequate oxygen delivery, by promoting angiogenesis. However, the HIF-1 complex is also activated during solid tumour formation, owing to increased oxygen demand.

Currently, the HIF-1 beta antibody is one of the products being used to investigate induction of the HIF-1 complex in normoxic cells. It has been shown that chronic inflammatory conditions may cause aberrant functioning of transcription factors such as HIF-1, resulting in altered expression of chemokines, growth factor etc. This in turn may provide ideal “growing conditions” for metastasis and cancer.

 
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The Xeroderma Pigmentosum antibody – turning the heat up on skin cancer

Skin cancer continues to be of major concern to antibody research groups in the United States, with an estimated one million cases diagnosed each year, according to the National Cancer Institute.

The most dangerous type of skin cancer is the malignant melanoma, which accounts for around 75% of all skin cancer-related deaths. Melanomas are traditionally diagnosed using the polyclonal antibody HMB-45 and S-100 protein marker. However, we at Novus Biologicals recently added three new melanoma marker antibodies to our antibody database: Melan-A; Mitf and tyrosinase. These have superior specificity and sensitivity.

UVB radiation can cause two types of DNA mutation: pyrimidine-pyrimidone photoproducts and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs). Depending on the severity of radiation damage, keratinocytosis may progress along either DNA repair or apoptosis pathways. In either case the cell cycle is arrested, enabling the keratinocyte to undergo DNA-repair or programmed cell death. Apoptosis can also be prevented via nucleotide excision repair, or NER. Thus it can be seen that cells are highly adaptive to DNA damage, allowing either DNA repair or apoptosis to take place on a cell-by-cell basis. However, aberrations can increase the risk of cancer.

Our antibody catalog contains a number of interleukin antibody products which are used in immunology research. Human interleukin 12, or IL-12 is a pro-inflammatory heterodimer which plays a central role in both innate and cell-mediated immunity, being the major cytokine in the TH1, NK and cytotoxic T-cell immune responses.

In 2002, an IL-12 antibody study by A. Schwartz et al showed IL-12 also suppressed apoptosis and promoted NER in vivo and in vitro. IL12-treated mice exposed to UVB showed a marked increase in cell survival, with a corresponding decrease in CPDs and apoptotic cells. Enhanced upregulation of NER genes was another noticeable factor.

Schwartz next used Xpa antibodies to develop a knockout mouse model for the human autosomal recessive disorder Xermoderma Pigmentosum (XP). XP sufferers have a faulty NER system, increased risk of skin cancer and hyperactivity to sunlight. The antibody results suggested the cancer risks associated with UVB-exposure may be reduced by harnessing IL-12 for NER therapy.

 
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The Article is written by novusbio.com providing antibody catalogue and antibody database Services. Visit http://www.novusbio.com for more information on novusbio.com Products & Services

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This article is free for reproduction but must be reproduced in its entirety, including live links & this copyright statement must be included. Visit novusbio.com for more services!