Neurotrophic factors are known to protect neuronal cell death in several neurodegenerative diseases, both in in vitro and in vivo. They play a key role in development, differentiation, synaptogenesis, and survival of neurons in the brain as well as in the process of their adaptation to external influences.  As such, they are essential growth factors in neuroprogenitor cell culture in vitro (Pluripotent stem cells). A sustained release of such factors in culture can be a challenge. Encapuslating them in polymer beads is an answer to this issue, as shown in this post introducing new StemBeads for BDNF and GDNF.

Progesterone derived Allopregnanolone (ALLO) is an extensively studied neurosteroid that has been shown to be involved in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. It is also linked to neuroinflammatory processes through a beneficial action on pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Allopregnanolone detection kits based on polyclonal antibodies were already available through Arbor Assays (K044-H and K044-C), a specialist of immunassay kits, with a special focus on inflammation and reproduction targets.

A new Allopregnanolone EIA kit has just been released, based on a monoclonal antibody (K061-H1). In addition to the supply stability offered by the monoclonal antibodies, this new kit is more sensitive than the original one, it requires smaller sample volumes and provides increased signal. It also has a more favorable cross reactivity profile:

Protein Gene Product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) is an abundant cytoplasmic neuron and neuroendocrine-cell specific protein. Over the years, this deubiquitinating enzyme (a.k.a. Ubiquitin Carboxy-terminal Hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1)) has become an accepted biomarker for neurons and cells of the diffuse neuroendocrine system (DNES) but also when studying neurodegenerative disorders (e.g. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases) and cancers.

Research antibodies specific for PGP9.5 / UCH-L1 stain neuronal cell bodies and axons in the central and peripheral nervous systems, small nerve fibres in nerve tissue, neuroendocrine cells in the pituitary, thyroid pancreas, and also tumours of the DNES.

In this context, Cedarlane just release 2 new anti-PGP9.5 / UCHL1 rabbit polyclonal antibodies fully validated & guaranteed for IHC analysis of Paraffin Embedded Sections, IF and WB applications on Human, Rat and Mouse tissues.

Access to neural cellular models for in vitro Neuroscience research enters into a new era.

XCell Science, experts in cellular and genome engineering, provide genetically modified cellular models differentiated from Human induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) lines. tebu-bio bring its scientific and logistics skills to deliver in Europe these high-quality and characterized neural cell derivatives for R&D, drug discovery, toxicology and regenerative medicine approaches.

Unlimited sources of biologically relevant functional neural cells

Proprietary high-efficiency protocols allow the directed differentiation of these iPS lines into a variety of functional neural cells, such as:

• Neural Stem Cells (NSC),
• Neurons,
• Dopaminergic neurons,
• Astrocytes.

Disease-specific knock-out isogenic neural cell lines

tebu-bio’s experts are pleased to introduce a collection of isogenic knock-out iPSC lines mimicking genetic defects identified in CNS disorders (Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, Autism, Schizophrenia and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)):

• BDNF-/-: Homozygous knockout of the BDNF gene,
  

  Expression of TH in Ready-to-use XCell DOPA cells prolonged cultured in DOPA medium.

• APOE-/-: Homozygous knockout of the APOE gene,
• DISC1-/-: Homozygous knockout of the DISC1 gene,
• CNTNAP2-/-: Homozygous knockout of the CNTNAP2 gene,
• SOD1-/-: Homozygous knockout of the SOD1 gene,
• Park2-/-: Homozygous knockout of the Park2 gene,
• Park7-/-: Homozygous knockout of the Park7 gene.

Want to know more about these unlimited iPSC-derived neural cellular models ?

XCell Science by tebu-bio

Be among the first to receive the XCell Science launch pack by tebu-bio to optimise your in vitro CNS-specific cellular models.

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iPSC-derived Neural cells characterization – XCell Science by tebu-bio

Related posts regarding CNS and Stem cell studies:

• 3 unique Amyloid Beta peptide (Aß) research tools to boost Alzheimer’s Disease research
• 5 reasons to prefer the MOAB-2 antibody in Alzheimer‘s Disease research
• How is Amylo-Glo a brighter, longer lasting and higher definition Amyloid plaque marker?
• Return of SIRT1 deacetylase – Why is SIRT1 so attractive in Drug discovery and Stem cell research?
• 3 fluorogenic substrates for analyzing undifferentiated iPS and Stem cells
• Study how miRNAs regulate Stem cell homeostasis and differentiation