"Staining Solutions"

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This mAb reacts with a protein of 22 kDa, identified as beta sub-unit of FSH. It does not cross react with the alpha sub-unit. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is a hormone synthesised and secreted by gonadotrophs in the anterior pituitary gland. In the ovary, FSH stimulates the growth of immature Graafian follicles to maturation. As the follicle grows, it releases inhibin, which deactivates the FSH production. In men, FSH enhances the production of androgen-binding protein by the Sertoli cells of the testis and is critical for spermatogenesis. FSH and LH act synergistically in reproduction. FSH is a useful marker in the classification of pituitary tumors and the study of pituitary disease.

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This mAb reacts with a wide variety of simple epithelia. It does not react with stratified squamous epithelia. It reacts with epithelial tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, lung, breast, pancreas, ovary, and thyroid. Cytokeratin 18, which belongs to the type A (acidic) subfamily of low molecular weight keratins, exists in combination with cytokeratin 8. It was reported that tissues from gastrointestinal tract are positive for both cytokeratin 8 and 18 but do not contain cytokeratin 14. Tissues from gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and urogenital tract, as well as endocrine and exocrine tissues and mesothelial cells are positive for cytokeratin 18.

Supplier: ProSci Inc.

This mAb reacts with a wide variety of simple epithelia. It does not react with stratified squamous epithelia. It reacts with epithelial tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, lung, breast, pancreas, ovary, and thyroid. Cytokeratin 18, which belongs to the type A (acidic) subfamily of low molecular weight keratins, exists in combination with cytokeratin 8. It was reported that tissues from gastrointestinal tract are positive for both cytokeratin 8 and 18 but do not contain cytokeratin 14. Tissues from gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and urogenital tract, as well as endocrine and exocrine tissues and mesothelial cells are positive for cytokeratin 18.

Supplier: ProSci Inc.

Recognises 78 kDa moesin protein. Moesin, a member of the Talin-4.1 superfamily, is a linking protein of the submembraneous actin cytoskeleton. It is expressed in variable amounts in cells of different phenotypes such as macrophages, lymphocytes, fibroblastic, endothelial, epithelial, and neuronal cell lines but not in blood cells. The ERM proteins, ezrin, radixin, and moesin are involved in a variety of cellular functions, such as cell adhesion, migration, and the organization of cell surface structures, and are highly homologous, both in protein sequence and in functional activity, with merlin/schwannomin, a neurofibromatosis-2-associated tumor-suppressor protein. Cell lines of epithelial and mesothelial origin contain both moesin and radixin whereas cells of endothelial and lymphoid origin express moesin.

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Hepatocyte Specific Antigen, also called Hepatocyte Paraffin 1 or Hep Par 1, localizes to the mitochondria of hepatocytes. It is a sensitive marker for distinguishing hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) from other metastatic carcinomas as well as cholangio-carcinomas. HCC’s occur primarily in the stomach, but they are also found in many other organs. The Hepatocyte Specific Antigen may also be a useful marker for intestinal metaplasia. Reportedly, strong expression of the Hepatocyte Specific Antigen correlates with smaller tumor size and longer patient survival. Occasionally, Hepatocyte Specific Antigen is also found in gastric carcinomas as well as in a few other non-hepatic tumors.

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The MUC6 gastric mucin is a secreted glycoprotein that plays an essential role in epithelial cyto-protection from acid, proteases, pathogenic microorganisms, and mechanical trauma in the gastrointestinal tract. Mucin 6 expression is highest in the stomach and gall bladder, with lower expression in the terminal ileum and right colon. In gastric cancer, Mucin 6 has an altered expression. In normal stomach, Mucin 6 is associated with Lewis type 2; Mucin 6 is also expressed in gastric metaplasia, duodenum and pancreas. Mucin 6 is a secretory mucin, located in the deeper mucosal folds of human gall bladder, and its expression is altered with increasing degrees of inflammation.

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Parathyroid hormone (PTH), parathormone or parathyrin, is secreted by the chief cells of the parathyroid glands as a polypeptide containing 84 amino acids, yet effective hormone-receptor interaction requires solely the 34-N-terminal amino acids. While PTH acts to increase the concentration of ionic calcium (Ca2+) in the blood, calcitonin, a hormone produced by the parafollicular cells (C cells) of the thyroid gland, acts to decrease ionic calcium concentration. PTH essentially acts to increase the concentration of calcium in the blood by acting upon the parathyroid hormone 1 receptor, which is present at high levels in bone and kidney, and the parathyroid hormone 2 receptor, which is present at high levels in the central nervous system, pancreas, testis, and placenta. [Wiki].

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CD8 is a cell surface receptor expressed either as a heterodimer with the beta chain or as a homodimer. A majority of thymocytes and a subpopulation of mature Tcells and NK cells express CD8a. It binds to MHC class 1 and through its association with protein tyrosine kinase p56lck plays a role in Tcell development and activation of mature Tcells. For mature Tcells, CD8 and 4 are mutually exclusive, so antibody to CD8 is generally used in conjunction with antibody to CD4. CD8a antibody is a useful marker for distinguishing helper/inducer T-lymphocytes, and most peripheral Tcell lymphomas are CD4+/CD8-. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma is usually CD4+/CD8-, and in T-lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia, they are often co-expressed. It is also found in littoral cell angioma of the spleen.

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Recognises a protein of 210-220 kDa, which is identified as the Complement receptor 1 or CD35. This mAb is specific for a site in CR1 that is distal from the C3b-binding site, so that it is unable to block CR1/CD35 activity. It is highly specific and shows no cross-reaction with CR2/CD21. The primary function of CR1 is to serve as the cellular receptor for C3b and C4b, the most important components of the complement system leading to clearance of foreign macromolecules. The Knops blood group system is a system of antigens located on this protein. Follicular dendritic cells (FDC) are restricted to the B-cell regions of secondary lymphoid follicles. They are CD21+/CD35+/CD1a-. This mAb labels follicular dendritic cells and follicular dendritic cell sarcoma.

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This antibody recognises a cell surface glycoprotein of 80 to 95 kDa, called CD44, or HCAM, on lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes (Leucocyte Typing Workshop V). Its epitope is resistant to digestion by trypsin and chymotrypsin. The CD44 family of glycoproteins exists in a number of variant isoforms, the most common being the standard 85 to 95 kDa or hematopoietic variant (CD44-s). Higher molecular weight isoforms are described in epithelial cells (CD44-v), which are believed to function in intercellular adhesion and stromal binding. HCAM antibody immunostaining is commonly used for the discrimination of urothelial transitional cell carcinoma in-situ from non-neoplastic changes in the urothelium.

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Recognises a 60 kDa protein, identified as the heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60). Its epitope is localized between amino acids 383-447 of human Hsp60. A wide variety of environmental and pathophysiological stressful conditions trigger the synthesis of a family of proteins known as heat shock proteins (hsps), more appropriately called as stress response proteins (srps). Hsp60 is a potential antigen in a number of autoimmune diseases. In human arthritis and in experimentally induced arthritis in animals, disease development coincides with the development of immune reactivity directed against not only bacterial Hsp60, but also against its mammalian homolog.

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The tetraspanins are integral membrane proteins expressed on cell surface and granular membranes of hematopoietic cells and are components of multi-molecular complexes with specific integrins. The tetraspanin CD63 is a lysosomal membrane glycoprotein that translocates to the plasma membrane after platelet activation. CD63 is expressed on activated platelets, monocytes and macrophages, and is weakly expressed on granulocytes, T cell and B cells. It is located on the basophilic granule membranes and on the plasma membranes of lymphocytes and granulocytes. CD63 is a member of the TM4 superfamily of leukocyte glycoproteins that includes CD9, CD37 and CD53, which contain four transmembrane regions. CD63 may play a role in phagocytic and intracellular lysosome-phagosome fusion events. CD63 deficiency is associated with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome and is strongly expressed during the early stages of melanoma progression.

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Recognises a carbohydrate determinant of Gal 1-3(Fuc 1-4) GlcNAc which is blood group antigen Lewis A. It is present primarily on epithelial cells such as colon and kidneys. In the tumors and dedifferentiated tissues, decrease of Lewis A antigen was observed. Lewis A (type 1 chain) is expressed in colonic epithelial cells and may be useful for detection of gastrointestinal tumors, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal tumors. Blood group related antigens represent a group of carbohydrate determinants carried on both glycolipids and glycoproteins. They are usually mucin-type, and are detected on erythrocytes, certain epithelial cells, and in secretions of certain individuals. Sixteen genetically and biosynthetically distinct but inter-related specificities belong to this group of antigens, including A, B, H, Lewis A, Lewis B, Lewis X, Lewis Y, and precursor type 1 chain antigens.

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Recognises a carbohydrate determinant of Gal 1-3(Fuc 1-4) GlcNAc which is blood group antigen Lewis A. It is present primarily on epithelial cells such as colon and kidneys. In the tumors and dedifferentiated tissues, decrease of Lewis A antigen was observed. Lewis A (type 1 chain) is expressed in colonic epithelial cells and may be useful for detection of gastrointestinal tumors, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal tumors. Blood group related antigens represent a group of carbohydrate determinants carried on both glycolipids and glycoproteins. They are usually mucin-type, and are detected on erythrocytes, certain epithelial cells, and in secretions of certain individuals. Sixteen genetically and biosynthetically distinct but inter-related specificities belong to this group of antigens, including A, B, H, Lewis A, Lewis B, Lewis X, Lewis Y, and precursor type 1 chain antigens.

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Estrogen receptor (ER) is an important regulator of growth and differentiation in the mammary gland. It is found in two forms, alpha and beta. Both forms are widely expressed, however, alpha is the predominant form in endometrium and breast cancer cells, and beta is more highly expressed in brain, kidney, heart, lung and bone. Activated Estrogen receptor dimerizes and forms both homo- and heterodimers. ER contains five domains: A-F. The A and B domain are able to weakly activate ER in the absence of ligand. The C domain binds DNA and the E domain contains the ligand binding site. Presence of ER in breast tumors indicates an increased likelihood of response to anti-estrogen (e.g. tamoxifen) therapy. This antibody is specific to estrogen receptor alpha and shows minimal cross-reaction with other members of the family.

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Expression of TMEM16A (DOG1) protein is elevated in the gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST’s), c-kit signaling-driven mesenchymal tumors of the GI tract. It is rarely expressed in other soft tissue tumors, which, due to appearance, may be difficult to diagnose. Immunoreactivity for TMEM16A has been reported in 97,8 percent of scorable GIST’s, including all c-kit negative GIST’s. Overexpression has been suggested to aid in the identification of GISTs, including Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor Alpha (PDGFR alpha) mutants that fail to express c-kit antigen. The overall sensitivity of TMEM16A and c-kit in GIST’s is nearly identical: 94,4% vs. 94,7%.