Inhibitory antibody reacts with a cell-surface molecule selectively expressed on mouse inteferon producing cells
A new monoclonal antibody to mouse inteferon producing cells (IPC) is now available in the UK from Cambridge BioScience.
The inhibitory antibody 440c reacts with a cell-surface molecule selectively expressed on mouse IPC.
These IPC provide a first line of host defence against viral infections by activating both innate and adaptive responses in vivo.
The new monoclonal antibody can be used for immunohistology on frozen sections and also for flow cytometry applications.
The new antibody 440c, produced by HyCult Biotechnology, exclusively recognises mouse IPC in all lymphoid organs under both normal and inflammatory conditions.
IPC are normally present in the T cell zone of lymph nodes and spleen.
Incubation of IPC with antibody 440c in vitro or administration of antibody 440c in vivo reduces secretion of IFN-alpha in response to CpG DNA without causing IPC depletion.
IPC recognise certain viruses and CpG-DNA through TLR9, resulting in secretion of IFN-alpha, IL-12 and proinflammatory chemokines.
Together these cytokines and chemokines recruit and activate NK cells and T cells as well as modulating the antigen presenting function of dendritic cells.
IPC themselves also function as antigen presenting cells that expand memory T cells and induce Th1 differentiation.
