Sensitive, Specific and Cost Effective Protein Expression Analysis

Reaching for Cell Based Assay Solutions Excellence

We have been receiving positive feedback from clients using our Quantibody® and RayBio® C-Series Membrane-Based Antibody Arrays. Our manufacturing partner, Raybiotech, is ISO 9000 certified insuring all arrays are made to exacting specification. The cost for measuring a single cytokine runs as low as 16 USD/Cytokine!

We use these arrays to test the blood serum of clients with autoimmune diseases to determine levels of cytokine and growth factor expression vs healthy controls. We also use them to determine proteins secreted by our  USB Derived hMSCs cultured in our hMSC Media. This gives us insight as to the protein expression patterns in our hMSC, Chondrogenesis and Osteogenesis Assays.

Figure: The graph shows cytokine secretion of hMSCs after a continuous 24 day culture. These results were obtained using our select markers from our cytokine and bone metabolism arrays. Data courtesy of Dr. Jim Musick and Tiana Tonrey, Vitro Biopharma.

We are pleased to announce the addition of these new human and mouse arrays:

Quantibody® Human Growth Factor+Neurotrophin+Cytokine Array Q1-10. Precisely measures: Amphiregulin, BDNF, bFGF, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-7, beta-NGF, EGF, EGFR, EG-VEGF (PK1), FGF-4,FGF-7 (KGF), GDF-15, GDNF, Growth Hormone, HB-EGF, HGF, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-4, IGFBP-6, IGF-1, Insulin, M-CSF R, NGFR (TNFRSF16), NT-3, NT-4, Osteoprotegerin (TNFRSF11B), PDGF-AA, PLGF, SCF, SCF R (CD117/c-kit), TGF alpha, TGF beta 1, TGF beta 3, VEGF-A, VEGFR2, VEGFR3 and VEGF-D.
Mouse C-Series Cytokine Array. C1-2-Semi-quantitavely measures: GCSF,GM-CSF, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12 p40/p70, IL-12 p70, IL-13, IL-17A, IFN-gamma, MCP-1 (CCL2), MCP-5, RANTES (CCL5), SCF, TNF RI (TNFRSF1A), TNF alpha, Thrombopoietin, (TPO) and VEGF-A.

Images: Representative images obtained with RayBio® C-Series Antibody Arrays. These membranes were probed with conditioned media from two different cell lines. Membranes were exposed with Kodak X-Omat® film at room temperature for 1 minute. Note the strong signals of the Positive Control spots in the upper left and lower right corners.

Questions? Do not hesitate to contact me: pshuster@neuromics.com or direct phone-612-801-1007. Thank you. Pete Shuster, CEO and Owner, Neuromics

Quantibody® Cytokine Arrays

Cytokines, Adipokines, Growth Factors and Neurotrophins

We are pleased to announce addition of Antibody Arrays to our catalog. These are excellent tools for study apoptosis, inflammation, angiogenesis and  immune response and related autoimmune, inflammatory and degenerative diseases plus many forms of cancers. Check out this video.

Specific Research Applications Include:
•High-throughput profiling of cytokine expression
•Validation of semi-quantitative antibody array results
•Identifying potential molecular targets for drug development
•Identifying the molecular mechanisms of drug action
•Identifying crucial factors involved in disease processes
•Discovering biomarkers for disease management
•Discovering expression patterns for molecular classification of diseases

How Quantibody Arrays Work

We will be aggresively adding new arrays to our product offerings in June. Stay tuned for more.





Aging-Caloric Restriction and BDNF-Leptin

As we age, selective BDNF receptors increase in the the dorsal vagal complex (DVC), the brainstem center mediating the satiety reflex. Aging also affects the suppressor of cytokine signaling-3. This results in abnormal responses to BDNF and Leptin Signaling.

In this study, the investigators found that by restricting calories in rats, DVC BDNF immunoreactive concentrations were elevated and resulting in satiety threshold stability.  This indicates functional desensitization of the DVC to these signals: Karine Bédard, Stéphanie Segura, Stéphanie Mahaut, Catherine Tardivel, Guylaine Ferland, Bruno Lebrun, Pierrette Gaudreau. Effects of aging and caloric restriction on brainstem satiety center signals in rats. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mad.2012.01.004.

The authors used our BDNF Antibody to determine expression in the DVC.....goat serum and 0.3% Triton-X-100) (Sigma–Aldrich), overnight at 4 °C with chicken anti-rat BDNF antibody (Neuromics, Edina, MN; diluted 1/200 in blocking buffer), rinsed 3× 10 min in fresh PBS and incubated for 2 h, in the dark...

These findings could lead to potential therapies based on modulating BDNF expression in the DVC.

Spinal Cord Injury Repair

Neuromics has featured an overview of Dr. Matt Ramer's Research on Spinal Cord Injury and "Finding Fixes for Injured Nerves" on our Neuroscience News Blog.

We wanted to share a recent publication authored by Dr. Mark Tuszynski and his team of researchers at USCD. Here's the good news:

"NT-3 expression in the correct target led to reinnervation of the nucleus gracilis in a dose-related fashion, whereas NT-3 expression in the reticular formation led to mistargeting of regenerating axons. Axons regenerating into the nucleus gracilis formed axodendritic synapses containing rounded vesicles, reflective of pre-injury synaptic architecture. Thus, we report for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the reinnervation of brainstem targets after SCI and an essential role for chemotropic axon guidance in target selection"

Laura Taylor Alto, Leif A Havton, James M Conner, Edmund R Hollis II, Armin Blesch & Mark H Tuszynski. Chemotropic guidance facilitates axonal regeneration and synapse formation after spinal cord injury. Nature Neuroscience. Published online: 2 August 2009 doi:10.1038/nn.2365.

Featured Neuromics Reagent
NT-3
Related Reagents:
Neurotrophins and Growth Factor Antibodies
Neuron/Glial Marker Antibodies
Neurotrophins-Neuron/Glial Marker Proteins
Stem Cell Reagents

Here's to finding the cure!

Neurotrophin Expression in Airway Smooth Muscle Cells

Dr. Y.K. Prakash and his team at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine have published a study of Neurotrophin Signaling in Airway Smooth Muscle (ASM) cells. Here they demonstrate that BDNF/TrkB signaling (but not BDNF/p75NTR) in human ASM cells regulates [Ca2+]i responses to agonist in both normal ASM, as well as with inflammation induced by TNFα. These effects suggest an important role of NT signaling in inflammation-induced changes in ASM contractility.

Y.S. Prakash, Michael A Thompson, and Christina M Pabelick. Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor in TNF Modulation of Ca2+ in Human Airway Smooth Muscle. Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., Feb 2009; doi:10.1165/rcmb.2008-0151OC.
... goat polyclonal anti-TrkB-Cat#: GT15080 (Neuromics, Minneapolis, MN; 1:1000 dilution)...

Featured Reagents
TrkB-Cat#: GT15080
TrkB-Cat#: MO15042
Related Reagents:
TrkB-Cat#: MO15025
TrkA for FC
TrkA-Cat#:MO15018
TrkA Cat#: MO15034
TrkA Cat#: GT15153
TrkC-Cat#:MO15000
All Neurotrophins and Growth Factor Antibodies
All Neurotrophins-Neuron/Glial Marker Antibodies

Rat Sensory Neurons and NK-1

A publication featuring our Neurokinin-1 (NK 1) Receptor just crossed my radar. It is authored by our friend, Dr. Matt Ramer.

Matt and his team at University of British Columbia study primary sensory nerve cells (neurons), which are responsible for the transmission of somatic (bodily) sensations such as touch, pain, hot, cold and so on from the periphery (skin, muscles and viscera) to the central nervous system (CNS, spinal cord and brain). His research extends to therapeutic potential of neurotrophins on regeneration in spinal cord injury and deafferentation pain.

In the past several years, he has generouly shared NT-3 and BDNF IHC data with us.

Here's a link to the publication:

Matt Ramer. Anatomical and functional characterization of neuropil in the gracile fasciculus. The Journal of Comparative Neurology. 10.1002/cne.21785.

Featured Reagent
Neurokinin-1 (NK 1) Receptor

Other Reagents to Consider:
Neurokinin-1 (NK 1) Human (RA25003)
Neurokinin-3 (NK 3) (RA25002)
Substance P (GP14103)
proNeurokinin B (RA25008)
All Neuropeptides
All Pain and Inflammation