PAI Antibodies

Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor (PAI) refers to a group of proteins that are involved in the regulation of fibrinolysis, the process by which blood clots are broken down. The most well-known member of this group is PAI-1 (Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1), a serine protease inhibitor (serpin) that inhibits tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase (uPA), which are key enzymes responsible for converting plasminogen into plasmin, the enzyme that degrades fibrin clots.

Applications of PAI Antibodies

• Immunocytochemistry (ICC): In cultured cells, PAI antibodies are used to localize PAI proteins, enabling the study of their intracellular or extracellular distribution. ICC helps researchers investigate how PAI-1 interacts with its target enzymes (tPA, uPA) and how it contributes to processes such as cell migration, tissue remodeling, or angiogenesis.
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA): PAI antibodies are commonly used in ELISA assays to measure the concentration of PAI-1 or PAI-2 in biological samples such as plasma, serum, or tissue extracts. This is a key technique in studying the levels of PAI-1 in conditions such as thrombosis, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases, where altered PAI-1 expression can serve as a biomarker for disease progression.
• Immunoprecipitation (IP): PAI antibodies can be used to pull down PAI proteins from cell lysates, facilitating the study of protein-protein interactions and the regulatory mechanisms governing PAI-1 or PAI-2 activity. This technique helps in understanding how PAIs interact with plasminogen activators or other cellular components involved in fibrinolysis and tissue remodeling.

Key Characteristics of PAI Antibodies

• Cross-reactivity: Many PAI antibodies are cross-reactive with human and animal PAI proteins, enabling their use in both clinical research and experimental models such as mice and rats.
• Sensitivity: PAI antibodies offer high sensitivity, which is crucial for detecting low levels of PAI-1, especially in cases where subtle changes in PAI-1 expression or activity are involved in disease processes.
• Phospho-Specificity: Some PAI antibodies are designed to detect specific post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation or glycosylation, which can affect PAI activity and its interactions with other proteins.

PAI antibodies are essential tools for studying the role of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitors, particularly PAI-1, in fibrinolysis, tissue remodeling, and disease. Their applications in cardiovascular research, cancer biology, metabolic disorders, and wound healing make them invaluable for understanding the molecular mechanisms by which PAI-1 regulates these processes.