Novus Biologicals Releases Two New VEGF Antibodies

Novus Biologicals announces the launch of two mouse monoclonal anti-VEGF antibodies. The immunogen for cone VG76e (cat# NB100-648) is the human VEGF189 isoform expressed in E. coli, whereas BALB/C mice were injected with a recombinant VEGF protein to produce clone VG1 (cat# NB100-664).

Clone VG1 is suitable for immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. The Novus antibody lab QC tested this VEGF antibody on human kidney lysate, however it also cross-reacts with mouse, rat at canine. In a scientific paper published in The Journal of Pathology, Turley, et al. raised and characterized this antibody to investigate the tissue distribution in a variety of normal and diseased specimens (PMID 10211122). It was found that clone VG1 detects three VEGF isoforms, including VEGF121, VEGF165 and VEGF189.

Clone VG76e is useful for immunohistochemistry on paraffin sections, Western blot, immunoprecipitation and ELISA. It has been tested by Western blot analysis on human kidney lysate, and also cross-reacts with bovine and porcine in IHC analysis.

These two new monoclonal antibodies are of interest due to the critical role of VEGF in angiogenesis and cancer. VEGF (Vascular endothelial growth factor) is a secreted, direct-acting mitogen specific for vascular endothelial cells and capable of stimulating angiogenesis in vivo. Molecular cloning revealed multiple forms of VEGF, apparently arising from alternative splicing of its RNA transcript. VEGF and TGF-beta 1 are potent angiogenesis inducers with opposing effects on endothelial cells. TGF-beta 1 induces apoptosis; VEGF protects endothelial cells from apoptosis. Overexpression of VEGF can lead to the growth and metastasis of tumors, as well as other diseases such as glomerular disease.