Carbohydrates are one of the major classes of biomolecules found in living organisms. They play a critical role in numerous biological processes such as cell-cell adhesion, protein folding, protein trafficking, and cell signaling. Due to the fact that carbohydrates are extremely difficult to study, it is necessary to develop well-characterized anti-glycan antibody reagents that can be used to locate and monitor the expression of carbohydrates, define their biological roles, and to detect glycoantigens. Besides, anti-glycan antibodies play critical roles in human health and provide a rich reservoir of potential biomarkers for many biomedical applications and diseases. Here, Creative Biolabs gives an introduction to the basic and clinical applications of anti-glycan antibodies.
Anti-glycan antibodies are antibodies that have been generated against specific glycan determinants. Generally, they can be produced with approaches such as hybridoma technology and phage display library screening. Firstly, whole cells, glycan-protein conjugates, or specific parasites and bacteria can be used to immunize mice to generate specific monoclonal antibodies using hybridoma technology. Secondly, phage display library can be screened with immobilized target antigens in enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) or glycan microarray assays.
Fig.1 Anti-glycan antibodies. (Sterner, 2016)
Antibodies to carbohydrates are essential for a variety of basic research purposes:
Fig.2 Basic and Clinical applications of anti-glycan antibodies. (Sterner, 2016)
Aberrant protein glycosylation is a common phenomenon in different diseases, leading to the discovery of anti-glycan antibody biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. For instance, antibodies that target Sialyl Lewis A (CA19.9) are currently used in the detection and monitoring of different cancers. Moreover, detection of anti-glycan antibodies against blood group A and B antigens provides a simple and reliable strategy to predict which individuals are suitable matches for transfusions and transplants.
Aberrant forms of glycans have been identified as an entirely novel class of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) suitable for specific tumor targeting. For example, the anti-GD2 antibody Unituxin (ch14.18) has been approved for the treatment of neuroblastoma. Other antibodies to GD3, GM2, fucosyl-GM1, STn, and Lewis Y have been developed for the aim of treating cancers.
To promote the development and availability of anti-glycan antibodies, Creative Biolabs proudly offers a comprehensive portfolio of Anti-Glycan Antibody Services to our clients globally. If you are interested in our services, contact us to discuss your requirements.
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