Immunohistochemical Antibodies

Immunohistochemical (IHC) antibodies are specialized antibodies designed for use in immunohistochemistry, a technique that involves the detection and localization of specific antigens (proteins, peptides, or other molecules) within tissue sections.

Content: IHC antibodies are typically divided into two main types:

• Primary Antibodies: These antibodies directly bind to the target antigen. They are selected based on their specificity to the target protein and are crucial for accurate detection. Primary antibodies can be monoclonal, offering high specificity to a single epitope, or polyclonal, which recognize multiple epitopes on the target antigen, providing greater sensitivity.
• Secondary Antibodies: These are antibodies that bind to the primary antibody. Secondary antibodies are conjugated to a detection molecule, such as an enzyme (e.g., horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase) or a fluorescent dye. This conjugation allows the visualization of the antigen-primary antibody complex. In IHC, secondary antibodies amplify the signal, improving the sensitivity of the detection process.

Applications: Immunohistochemical antibodies are extensively used in various research and clinical applications, including:

• Cancer Diagnosis and Prognosis: IHC antibodies are used to detect specific biomarkers associated with different types of cancers, such as HER2 in breast cancer, PD-L1 in lung cancer, and CD20 in lymphomas. By assessing the expression levels and localization of these biomarkers, IHC can help in the diagnosis, classification, and prognostication of cancers, guiding treatment decisions.
• Neuroscience Research: IHC antibodies are employed to study the expression of proteins involved in neural development, synaptic transmission, and neurodegenerative diseases. For instance, antibodies against beta-amyloid and tau proteins are used to study Alzheimer’s disease, while those targeting synaptophysin and MAP2 can be used to investigate synaptic and neuronal structures.

Immunohistochemical antibodies are indispensable for pathology, cancer research, neuroscience, and developmental biology. They allow the direct study of protein expression within the context of tissue structure, providing detailed spatial information that is not achievable with other techniques.