BTN Antibodies

BTN (Butyrophilin) antibodies are designed to target members of the butyrophilin family of proteins, which belong to the immunoglobulin superfamily and play key roles in immune regulation, lipid metabolism, and milk fat secretion. BTN proteins, such as BTN1A1, BTN2A1, and BTN3A1, are involved in a variety of biological processes, including T-cell regulation, lipid droplet formation in lactating mammary glands, and interaction with gamma delta (γδ) T-cells. BTN3A1, in particular, has been studied for its role in modulating immune responses and T-cell activation. Dysregulation of BTN proteins is linked to autoimmune diseases and cancer.

Application of BTN Antibodies

Western Blotting (WB): BTN antibodies are extensively used in Western blotting to detect the expression levels of BTN family proteins in various tissue or cell lysates. This application is critical for studying the role of BTN proteins in immune regulation, lipid metabolism, and mammary gland function. For example, BTN1A1 expression is essential in the formation of milk lipid droplets, while BTN3A1 is important for immune signaling in cancer research.
Immunohistochemistry (IHC): In IHC, BTN antibodies are used to localize BTN protein expression in tissue sections, including mammary gland tissue and immune cells. This application is important for studying BTN protein involvement in milk fat secretion during lactation or immune responses in autoimmune diseases and cancer. BTN antibodies in IHC enable detailed analysis of tissue-specific expression patterns in normal versus pathological states.
Immunofluorescence (IF): BTN antibodies are employed in immunofluorescence studies to visualize the subcellular distribution of BTN proteins. This is particularly important for understanding BTN1A1's role in lipid droplet formation in mammary epithelial cells or BTN3A1's regulation of T-cell activation and interaction with γδ T-cells. Immunofluorescence with BTN antibodies helps illustrate the dynamic cellular localization and involvement of BTN proteins in various physiological processes.

Technical Specifications

Clonality: Monoclonal or Polyclonal
Isotype: IgG (species-specific variants)
Species Reactivity: Human, Mouse, Rat, with cross-reactivity in other species depending on the BTN protein
Applications: WB, IHC, IF, FACS, Co-IP, ELISA
Epitope Specificity: Available for specific BTN proteins (e.g., BTN1A1, BTN2A1, BTN3A1)
Storage Conditions: Typically stored at -20°C or -80°C to maintain stability