|
HIGHLIGHTS IN NEURON-GLIA INTERACTIONS...
(Nice to know that microglia are looking after your brain even while you sleep!)
Dear Doctor
In this issue of BioSpeak we focus on recent exciting findings on the interactions of neurons and the principal immune cells of the central nervous system - the microglia.
After being neglected for a long time, microglia have emerged as central mediators of neuroinflammation and found to be critical for proper neuronal function in the healthy brain.
Recent advances include the demonstration that microglial support is crucial for neuronal wiring in the developing and mature brain, as well as contributing to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
For the full range of our products visit us at www.biosensis.com. |
|
New MOAB-2 antibody
|
MOAB-2 is a new highly specific amyloid beta (Aβ) monoclonal antibody used for Alzheimer's research. (Catalog No: M-1586-100).
|
|
|
New insights into neuron-microglia interactions
|
Microglia express a variety of cell surface receptors and secrete messenger molecules that are involved in neuron-glia communication.
Here, the chemokine fractalkine (CX3CL1) and its microglial receptor CX3CR1 as well as the neurotrophic insulin-like growth factor IGF-1 were found to support neuronal survival during postnatal development in mice.
This short review article summarizes the recently discovered role of microglia in synaptic plasticity and highlights some of the researchers that have significantly advanced the research field of neuron-glia biology.
Microglial cells are also involved in the progression of neuropathologies including Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Hallmarks of AD include circulating Aβ-peptide oligomers and amyloid plaque that promote neuronal degeneration.
In this study, microglial cells were demonstrated to be capable of reducing the burden of toxic Aβ-oligomers by phagocytosis with help of naturally occurring anti-Aβ antibodies and secrete as yet unidentified factors that increase neuronal survival.
Nevertheless, amyloid plaque can trigger neuroinflammation and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β.
A crucial role of the NRLP3 inflammasome upstream of IL-1β maturation was identified here. Microglia in NLRP3-deficient mice showed a beneficial phenotype linked to enhanced amyloid-β clearance.
|
Microglia: "Good cops or bad cops?"
|
The function of microglia in AD progression exemplifies their crucial yet dual role for neuronal survival.
Aguzzi, A., B.A. Barres, and M.L. Bennett, Microglia: Scapegoat, saboteur, or something else? Science, 2013. 339(6116): p. 156-161.
This excellent review discusses the persistent question of whether microglial cells are the "good or bad cops".
If you need to find an answer to this question, Biosensis can help you!
|
Quality antibodies and ELISA kits for your research!
|
Biosensis is proud to offer a suite of products for continued research into neuron-glia biology and neurodegenerative diseases such as AD.
Mouse monoclonal antibody OX42 to the microglial marker CD11b (M-1325-100).
Mouse monoclonal antibody to NeuN/Fox3 [1B7] (1-99) (M-377-100).
Mouse monoclonal antibody MOAB-2 to amyloid-Aβ peptide (Aβ 40/42) (M-1586-100).
Amylo-Glo RTD amyloid plaque stain reagent (TR-300-AG).
Fluoro-Jade C staining kit for identifying degenerating neurons (TR-100-FJ).
Biosensis offers 200 ELISA kits for a variety of neurotrophic factors, chemokines, cytokines and other intercellular messenger molecules. Some highlights from our extensive range of ELISA kits include:
Coming soon: Sandwich ELISA to quantify oligomeric Aβ-peptides!
Mouse monoclonal antibody to NeuN/Fox3 [1B7] (1-99): IgG

Rat brain neural cultures stained with mouse monoclonal antibody to
NeuN/Fox3 ( M-377-100, red), chicken polyclonal antibody to GFAP ( C-1373-50, green) and DNA (blue). Note: a rabbit polyclonal antibody to NeuN/Fox3 ( R-3770-100) is also available.
MOAB-2 Mouse Monoclonal antibody to Amyloid beta peptide (A beta 40/42)
IHC staining of amyloid-Aβ peptide with MOAB-2 antibody (M-1586-100, red) on hippocampal sections of 2,4 and 6 month old 5XFAD mice. Green: NeuN staining. Photo courtesy of Dr. Mary Jo LaDu and Dr. Leon Tai from the University of Illinois (Chicago).
Immunohistochemical detection of Aβ and APP in coronal sections of the frontal cortex of 1-month old 5xFAD mice. Sections were co-stained with MOAB-2 antibody (M-1586-100) or APP antibodies (N-terminus and C-terminus). MOAB-2 staining was punctate and did not co-localize with APP antibodies. Figure courtesy of Youmans, KL et al (2012).
Amylo-Glo RTD "Ready-to-Dilute" Amyloid Plaque Stain Reagent

Triple-fluorescence image showing Amylo-GloŽ positive amyloid plaques (blue), GFAP-positive astrocytes (green) and activated microglia (red) in the hippocampus of the AD/Tg mouse. (Catalog No: TR-300-AG).
Human Interleukin 1 beta ELISA Kit (2 Plates)
Typical standard curve generated to quantify human IL-1β (BEK-2158-2P). Biosensis offers a wide range of sensitive sandwich ELISA kits allowing you to accurately quantify your analyte of interest.
To view the full range of ELISA kits and antibodies visit our web site at www.biosensis.com.
|
The Biosensis UNCONDITIONAL Guarantee
| 
Should your manuscript ever be rejected by ANY journal because of insufficient information about a Biosensis antibody, we will gladly refund TWICE the purchase price of that antibody!
|
By researchers for researchers!
The staff at Biosensis have over 60 years of combined experience in manufacturing and working with antibodies and have published over 340 peer reviewed research publications in the field of neuroscience. We guarantee to provide you with the antibody information you need to get your research published.
If you have a query on any of our products, one of our experienced researchers can help at biospeak@biosensis.com.
Until next time, good luck with your research.
Sincerely,
Tina
Contact Information
Phone: +61 8 8352 7711
P.S. Have you missed previous issues of BioSpeak? Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|