For in vitro diagnostic use.

Polyclonal Rabbit Anti-Human CD117, c-kit is intended for use in immunocytochemistry. The antibody labels the transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor CD117/c-kit, located in hematopoietic stem cells, melanocytes, mast cells, Cajal cells, germ cells, basal cells of skin, and mammary ductal epithelia (1-5). The antibody may be a useful tool for the identification of several cancers expressing c-kit, including mast cell diseases, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), and Ewing sarcoma, and it may aid in the differentiation between gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and other intraabdominal mesenchymal tumors (1-4). Differential identification is aided by the results from a panel of antibodies. Interpretation must be made within the context of the patient's clinical history and other diagnostic tests by a qualified pathologist.

Peptide corresponding to amino acids 963 to 976 at the cytoplasmic C-terminal part of c-kit (1,5).

In Western blotting of an extract of the small cell lung carcinoma cell line SY, that over-expresses c-kit mRNA, the antibody labels a band of 145 kD corresponding to the c-kit protein. The labelled band is rather broad, from 120 to 155 kD. An additional band of 100 kD is also labelled (1). In another study applying a different antibody to c-kit, a 100 kD protein was, likewise, labelled. This labelling was abolished when the antibody was incubated with the synthetic c-kit peptide antigen used for immunization (6).

In Western blotting, the antibody did not react with an extract of the adenocarcinoma cell line HS, that is without c-kit gene expression (1).

Affinity-isolated rabbit antibody purified through antigen-bound, activated thiol AvidGel F affinity chromatography and provided in liquid form, in 0.05 mol/L Tris/HCl, 0.1 mol/L NaCl, 0.015 mol/L NaN₃, pH 7.2, 1% bovine serum albumin. Package size is 1 mL.

Protein concentration g/L: See label on vial.