Unspecific labeling of pancreatic islets by antisera against fibroblast growth factors and their receptors

J Histochem Cytochem. 2003 Mar;51(3):397-400. doi: 10.1177/002215540305100314.

Abstract

Six distinct fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) have been detected in pancreatic islets by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using commercially available antisera. We show here that these antisera are useful for Western blotting but that only two are suited for IHC. By Western blotting, these antisera detect recombinant FGFs. Detection can be eliminated by preabsorption with immunizing peptide but not with irrelevant peptide. By IHC we find specific labeling of islets with anti-FGF1 and anti-FGF2 antisera. Labeling can be abolished by preabsorption with the immunizing peptides. In contrast, prominent staining of islets by anti-FGF4, -FGF5, -FGF7, and -FGF10 antisera is unspecific because the staining cannot be competed by preabsorption with the immunizing peptides.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 / metabolism
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / metabolism
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 3
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 4
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 5
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 6
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / immunology
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / metabolism*
  • Immune Sera
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Islets of Langerhans / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / immunology
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Fgf3 protein, mouse
  • Fgf4 protein, mouse
  • Fgf5 protein, mouse
  • Fgf6 protein, mouse
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 3
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 4
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 6
  • Immune Sera
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 1
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 5
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors