NEFH Antibodies

NEFH (Neurofilament Heavy Chain) is a key component of the neuronal cytoskeleton, belonging to the intermediate filament family. NEFH plays a critical role in maintaining neuronal caliber and contributing to the structural integrity and function of axons. Neurofilaments consist of three subunits: neurofilament light (NEFL), neurofilament medium (NEFM), and neurofilament heavy (NEFH) chains, with NEFH being the largest and responsible for stabilizing axonal diameter.

Application of NEFH Antibodies

NEFH antibodies are crucial tools in neuroscience research, especially for detecting the presence and distribution of NEFH in various cell types, tissues, or under disease conditions. These antibodies are extensively used in studies related to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Their applications include:

• Western Blotting: NEFH antibodies can be used to detect the NEFH protein in lysates derived from neuronal cells or tissues, providing insights into neurofilament alterations under pathological conditions.
• Immunohistochemistry (IHC): In tissue sections, NEFH antibodies allow for the localization of neurofilaments within axons and are commonly used to assess axonal damage, neurodegeneration, or alterations in neurofilament distribution.
• Immunocytochemistry (ICC): NEFH antibodies help in visualizing neurofilaments in cultured neurons or neuroblastoma cell lines, contributing to understanding axonal structure and dynamics in response to different stimuli or treatments.
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA): NEFH antibodies can be employed in quantitative assays to measure the concentration of neurofilaments, particularly in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or plasma, where elevated levels of neurofilament fragments are indicative of neuronal injury.

Key Characteristics of NEFH Antibodies

• Specificity: NEFH antibodies are highly specific to the heavy chain of neurofilaments, ensuring accurate detection of the protein in complex samples.
• Isoform Detection: These antibodies can often detect phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated forms of NEFH, important for understanding its functional state in different contexts.
• Cross-reactivity: Some NEFH antibodies may show cross-reactivity with NEFL and NEFM due to conserved domains among neurofilament proteins, which can be beneficial or a limitation depending on the research application.

NEFH antibodies are critical for elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms of neuronal structure and neurodegeneration, making them indispensable in neurobiological and neuropathological research.