Thermo Fisher Scientific GFAP Monoclonal Antibody (GA-5)

Applications

Tested Dilution

Publications

Immunohistochemistry (Paraffin) (IHC (P))

1:100-1:200

-

Product Specifications

Species Reactivity

Human, Pig

Host/Isotype

Mouse / IgG1, kappa

Class

Monoclonal

Type

Antibody

Clone

GA-5

Immunogen

Native GFAP purified from pig spinal cord

Conjugate

Unconjugated Unconjugated Unconjugated

Form

Liquid

Concentration

100 µg/mL

Purification

Protein A

Storage buffer

tris with NP-40, BSA

Contains

<0.1% sodium azide

Storage conditions

4° C

Shipping conditions

Wet ice

Product Specific Information

A recommended positive control tissue for this product is Brain, however positive controls are not limited to this tissue type.

The primary antibody is intended for laboratory professional use in the detection of the corresponding protein in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue stained in manual qualitative immunohistochemistry (IHC) testing. This antibody is intended to be used after the primary diagnosis of tumor has been made by conventional histopathology using non-immunological histochemical stains.

Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) is specific to astrocytes (i.e., glial cells) and ependymal cells of the central nervous system. MAb to GFAP is useful in differentiating primary gliomas from metastatic lesions in the brain and for documenting astrocytic differentiation in tumors outside the CNS. GFAP stains astrocytes, glial cells, ependymal cells, and their corresponding tumors. Many types of neural tumors such as neuroblastomas, Schwannomas, as well as extra-CNS tumors are not labeled. GA-5 is very sensitive in detecting GFAP in routine formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues.

Antibody is used with formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections. Pretreatment of deparaffinized tissue with heat-induced epitope retrieval or enzymatic retrieval is recommended. In general, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining techniques allow for the visualization of antigens via the sequential application of a specific antibody to the antigen (primary antibody), a secondary antibody to the primary antibody (link antibody), an enzyme complex and a chromogenic substrate with interposed washing steps. The enzymatic activation of the chromogen results in a visible reaction product at the antigen site. Results are interpreted using a light microscope and aid in the differential diagnosis of pathophysiological processes, which may or may not be associated with a particular antigen.

A positive tissue control must be run with every staining procedure performed. This tissue may contain both positive and negative staining cells or tissue components and serve as both the positive and negative control tissue. External Positive control materials should be fresh autopsy/biopsy/surgical specimens fixed, processed and embedded as soon as possible in the same manner as the patient sample (s). Positive tissue controls are indicative of correctly prepared tissues and proper staining methods. The tissues used for the external positive control materials should be selected from the patient specimens with well-characterized low levels of the positive target activity that gives weak positive staining. The low level of positivity for external positive controls is designed to ensure detection of subtle changes in the primary antibody sensitivity from instability or problems with the staining methodology. A tissue with weak positive staining is more suitable for optimal quality control and for detecting minor levels of reagent degradation.

Internal or external negative control tissue may be used depending on the guidelines and policies that govern the organization to which the end user belongs to. The variety of cell types present in many tissue sections offers internal negative control sites, but this should be verified by the user. The components that do not stain should demonstrate the absence of specific staining, and provide an indication of non-specific background staining. If specific staining occurs in the negative tissue control sites, results with the patient specimens must be considered invalid.

Target Information

GFAP (Glial fibrillary acidic protein) is a member of the class III intermediate filament protein family. GFAP is heavily and specifically expressed in astrocytes and certain astroglia of the central nervous system, in satellite cells of peripheral ganglia, and in non-myelinating Schwann cells of peripheral nerves. In addition, neural stem cells strongly express GFAP. Antibodies to GFAP are very useful as markers of astrocytic cells. In addition, many types of brain tumor, presumably derived from astrocytic cells, heavily express GFAP. GFAP is also found in the lens epithelium, Kupffer cells of the liver, in some cells in salivary tumors and has been reported in erythrocytes. GFAP is used as a marker to distinguish astrocytes from other glial cells during development. Mutations in this gene cause Alexander disease, a rare disorder of astrocytes in the central nervous system. Alternative splicing of the GFAP gene results in multiple transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. Not for resale without express authorization.