Apoptosis Antibodies

Apoptosis is the process by which cells die a pre- programmed death or PCD. The process is facilitated by processes within the cell using certain biochemicals that lead to changes in cell morphology and eventually leads to the cell dying. This is a natural process in the cell cycle and is necessary to maintain proper alignments of organ and organelle structure. Defects in the apoptosis of cells can lead to diseases such as cancer. Each cell must die in order to make room for fresh replacements. Apoptosis is essentially induction of cell suicide. Apoptosis can be triggered by internal or external signals. Some of the identifying events of apoptosis include DNA fragmentation, shrinkage, and releasing of energy stores. Apoptosis antibodies are involved in apoptosis and can facilitate, block, or slow down the process of pre-programmed cell death.

Organ transplants are notorious for being attacked and killed as invaders. Interestingly enough, it was found that cells from the anterior chamber of the eye and the testes are considered “immunologically privileged”. This means that antigens within these sites do not elicit any immune responses. These cells were found to express high levels of FasL. Anti- Fas Ligand antibody is a cytokine that binds to a receptor that communicates the apoptotic signal into cells. This can halt the message and postpone T-cell mediated apoptosis. Defects in this antibody result in autoimmune syndromes like autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome type 1B.

Apoptosis can also be useful in the breakdown of cells into their parts for recycling and re-use. The hemopexin antibody binds to heme in blood and transports it to the liver for it to be broken down. After which, the iron is recovered and used in other applications and the free hemopexin is returned into general circulation to start the process over again.