Anti-receptor antibodies

Receptor-specific antibodies can be used to analyze morphologically the cellular distribution of chemokine receptors, following ligand treatment. If the anti-receptor antibodies do not interfere with chemokine binding the protocols can be adapted to follow endocytosis and recycling of cell surface receptors (see Notes 4 and 5). 

Polyclonal antibodies have been prepared against partially purified rabbit mammary gland receptors [42-44], and have been used to demonstrate that the receptors really are involved in mediating the biological actions of prolactin. Anti-receptor antibodies that blocked binding of labelled prolactin were able to inhibit prolactin-stimulated casein synthesis and amino acid transport in rabbit mammary gland explants in vitro [43,45] (Fig. 4). They had no effect on the actions of insulin... 

Borg C, Lim CT, Yeomans DC, Dieter IP, Komiotis D, Anderson EG, LeBreton GC. Purification of rat brain, rabbit aorta, and human platelet thranboxane A / prostaglandin H pecqitors by immunoaffinity chromatography employing anti-peptide and anti-receptor antibodies. J Biol Chem 1994 269 6109-16... 

The final, very interesting approach, has been to use antibody directed against IgE receptor (15). The fact that this antibody causes cell activation demonstrates that it Is unnecessary for IgE to be bound to the receptor In order for triggering to occur only the IgE receptors need be cross-linked. Again, the F(ab )2 fragment of anti-receptor antibody is active but Fab Is not active that Is, a bivalent molecule Is required for activation (15). 

Ligand-binding assays for anti-receptor antibodies... 

Assay using antigen coated PS or PVC coated multiwell plates 15 Assay using live or fixed adherent cells grown in multiwell plates 16 Ligand-binding assays for anti-receptor antibodies 17... 

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