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Published TCIMAIL newest issue No.197
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TLC immunostaining for glycolipids is a technique where glycolipids are separated by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and detected using specific antibodies. Samples containing glycolipids are applied to a TLC plate, separated based on their molecular mobility, treated with antibodies specific to the separated glycolipids, and stained with enzyme-labeled secondary antibodies to identify the target glycolipids. The key advantages of TLC immunostaining include minimal sample pretreatment and the ability to simultaneously separate and detect multiple glycolipids, thus making it suitable even for small sample volumes. This method is faster and simpler compared to other techniques for analyzing complex glycolipids.
Flow cytometry (FCM) for detecting cell surface involves the use of specific antibodies or lectins to bind glycolipids, with fluorescence intensity measured on a cell-by-cell basis. This technique provides highly sensitive analysis of glycolipid expression on the cell surface. Other glycolipid detection methods include thin- layer chromatography (TLC), and mass spectrometry (MS). FCM can analyze thousands of cells per second, providing a unique advantage by enabling the comparison of glycolipid expression patterns in individual cells, thus offering a perspective different from MS. While MS excels in compositional analysis and structural identification, FCM is particularly useful for pathological analysis and biomarker discovery based on cell-specific glycolipid diversity.
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an essential component in higher organisms, facilitating the formation of cells, tissues, and organs, as well as regulating cell-cell junctions and functions. The ECM also significantly influences various biological processes, including development, aging, inflammation, wound healing, and immunity. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), such as chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, and keratan sulfate, are major components of the ECM and play vital roles in these processes. However, analyzing GAGs, particularly in situ within cells and tissues, is challenging. As a result, antibodies are valuable tools for their detection.
*Between each step, wash plates 3 times (twice after coating) with 200 μL/well of wash buffer.
The glycan structure of antibody and biopharmaceutical drugs has a significant impact on drug efficacy and safety. Glycans are involved in antibody stability, blood half-life, and immunoreactivity. In particular, glycosylation of the Fc region affects antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). Since non-human animal cell lines are also used in the production of biopharmaceuticals, the addition of non-human glycans, especially those containing α-1,3-galactose and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), is undeniable. These glycans can be recognized by the human immune system and may increase the risk of immune or allergic reactions. For these reasons, the detection of non-human-type glycans has become important. The detection applications of these non-human glycans are presented here.
Immunochromatography is a simple and rapid method that requires only a drop of specimen and provides results within 15 minutes. If both the test and control lines are chromogenic, the result is positive; if only the control line is chromogenic, the result is negative.
This research is partially supported by the developing key technologies for discovering and manufacturing pharmaceuticals used for next-generation treatments and diagnoses both from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan (METI) and from Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). This research was supported by AMED under Grant Number JP20ae0101057.