MD Bioproducts launches new subtype specific antibody as marker for AS

MD Bioproducts launches a new subtype specific antibody as a marker for ankylosing spondylitis (AS): HLA-B*2705. The anti-HLA-B*2705 antibody, clone MARB4, has been validated for use in flow cytometry, tissue staining and immunoprecipitation.  

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronc inflammatory arthritis. It is characterized by inflammation of the joints between the spinal bones and the joints between the spine and pelvis. It is a long term conditin where the affected joints may fuse together causing a significant loss of quality of life. The pathogenesis of AS remains highly unresolved. While it is known that HLA-B27 is strongly associated with AS, there is subtype variability with a particularly strong association with HLA-B*2704 and HLA-B*2705, which might be due to differential rates of folding. Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) play a central role in the immune system recognizing self from non-self. It is also known that endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1) polymorphisms are associated with AS. ERAP1 is an aminopeptidase resident in the edoplasmic reticulum (ER) functioning in N-terminal peptide trimming for pHLA presentation.

The MARB4-reactive population of HLA-B27 molecules appears to be generated particularly when the activity of the ER aminopeptidase ERAP1 is impaired, either by down-regulation or specific point mutations. Since ERAP1 activity appears to be impaired in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), MARB4 reactivity is likely to increase in these patients. Most interesting is the ability of clone MARB4 to distinguish between AS-associated and non-associated HLA-B27 subtypes. The MARB4 clone may possibly be useful to detect early signs of inflammatory episodes in AS patients and thus the anti-HLA-B*2705 (clone MARB4) can thus be expected to be of diagnostic value.

The HLA-B27 antibody is a nice enhancement to the already robust line of arthritis-related research products, including collagens, antibodies, ELISAs and the ArthritoMab(TM) antibody cocktail for the induction of the rapid Collagen Induced Arthritis (CAIA) Model. The HLA-B*2705 antibody is available for pre-order with shipping availability in mid-June.

SOURCE MD Bioproducts