Cited by 176Receptor Mechanisms and SignalingNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchMonoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research

Ten commercial antibodies for alpha-1-adrenergic receptor subtypes are nonspecific

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Jensen, Brian C., Swigart, Philip M., Simpson, Paul C.·2009·Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology

Abstract

Commercial antibodies are used widely to quantify and localize the alpha1-adrenergic receptor (AR) subtypes, alpha1A, alpha1B, and alpha1D. We tested ten antibodies, from abcam and Santa Cruz, using western blot with heart and brain tissue from wild-type (WT) mice and mice with systemic knockout (KO) of one or all three subtypes. We found that none of the antibodies detected a band in WT that was absent in the appropriate KO or in the KO that was null for all alpha1-ARs (ABDKO). We conclude that the antibodies we tested are not specific for alpha1-ARs. These results raise caution with prior studies using these reagents. For now, competition radioligand binding is the only reliable approach to quantify the alpha1-AR subtype proteins. Receptor protein localization remains a challenge.

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  • Simply citing a company name and antibody target leaves much ambiguity and, in a surprisingly large percentage of cases, leads scientists to waste money and time trying to optimize the wrong reagent.

    “Simply citing a company name and target leaves much ambiguity and, in a surprisingly large percentage of cases, leads scientists to waste money and time trying to optimize the wrong reagent [27–29].”

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Authors
Jensen, B. C., Swigart, P. M., & Simpson, P. C.
Affiliations
San Francisco VA Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
Simpson, Paul C.
Venue
Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology
Published
2008-11-07
Volume
379
Issue
4
Pages
409-412
ISSN
  • 0028-1298 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-1912
OpenAlex
W2077606276
Cited by
176
References
12
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 12
FWCI
4.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Naunyn-Schmiedeberg s Archives of Pharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL031113)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
Keywords
alpha1-adrenoceptors, commercial antibodies, antibody specificity, receptor knockout mice, receptor localization
MeSH terms
Animals, Antibodies, Antibody Specificity, Brain Chemistry, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Myocardium, Blotting, Western, Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1, Mice, Knockout, Mice

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