Cell Death Markers

Cell death results from apoptosis, autophagy, and necroptosis. An inappropriate level of cell death, either too little or too much, is a decisive factor in cancer.

Apoptosis and autophagy are referred to as “programmed cell death” while necrosis is considered “unprogrammed cell death”. Necroptosis is another type of cell death that exhibits morphological features of both apoptosis and necrosis.

Apoptosis

Apoptosis remains the most well-studied mechanism of programmed cell death. Apoptosis is a regulated, ATP-dependent cell death mechanism crucial for the removal of surplus and/or aberrant cells. This process ultimately depends on the actions of the activated form of the protease caspase-3.

Apoptosis is important during development, organogenesis, and aging, and serves as a mechanism to maintain cellular homeostasis within tissues.

Cancer cells can surpass apoptosis by various mechanisms: by, for example, upregulating the anti-apoptotic (BCL2) pathway or inhibiting the pro-apoptotic proteins through genetic or epigenetic mechanisms.

IHC staining of breast cancer using Anti-BCL2 antibody (AMAb91492).

Autophagy

Autophagy plays a housekeeping role in removing misfolded or aggregated proteins and damaged organelles and depends upon their lysosomal proteolysis.

In normal tissues, autophagy contributes to the homeostasis of the cells. In cancer, dysregulation of autophagy contributes to protecting cells undergone malignant transformation. As a result, sustained survival and proliferation of tumor cells occur, supporting tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis.

Necroptosis

Necroptosis is the caspase-independent “cellular suicide” or “regulated” necrosis. It is an alternative mode of regulated cell death mimicking features of both apoptosis and necrosis. Pieces of evidence based on a mouse model reveal that the deregulation of necroptosis is associated with pathological conditions like cancer¹. Necroptosis is primarily regulated by proteins RIPK1 and RIPK3 and it may trigger and amplify antitumor immunity in cancer therapy.

Mechanisms in Cancer

Download our white paper to learn about the mechanisms in cancer and protein markers used in cancer research.

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Antibodies targeting cell death markers

Atlas Antibodies offer a range of primary antibodies targeting cell death markers. Selected antibodies are listed below.

IHC staining of human tonsil with Anti-BCL2 antibody (AMAb91492) — IHC staining of human tonsil with Anti-BCL2 Antibody (AMAb91492) shows strong positivity in non-germinal center cells.

Anti-BCL2 monoclonal antibody (AMAb91492)

Validated for IHC, WB
Sequence identity mouse/rat 100% / 94%

Cell Death Markers

Apoptosis

Autophagy

Necroptosis

Mechanisms in Cancer

Antibodies targeting cell death markers

Anti-BCL2 monoclonal antibody (AMAb91492)

Anti-BCL2 polyclonal antibody (HPA055295)

Anti-ANXA1 polyclonal antibody (HPA011272)

Anti-ATG5 polyclonal antibody (HPA042973)

Anti-ATG5 monoclonal antibody (AMAb91582)

Anti-BAD polyclonal antibody (HPA028185)

Anti-BAX polyclonal antibody (HPA027878)

Anti-BAX monoclonal antibody (AMAb91490)

Anti-BID polyclonal antibody (HPA000722)

Anti-CASP8 polyclonal antibody (HPA005688)

Anti-CASP9 polyclonal antibody (HPA046488)

Anti-DIABLO polyclonal antibody (HPA001825)

Anti-FAS polyclonal antibody (HPA027444)

Anti-MAP1LC3A polyclonal antibody (HPA052474)

Anti-mTOR monoclonal antibody (AMAb91508)

Anti-p53 monoclonal antibody (AMAb90956)

Anti-p53 polyclonal antibody (HPA051244)

Anti-PARP1 monoclonal antibody (AMAb90959)

Anti-PARP1 monoclonal antibody (AMAb90960)

Anti-PARP1 polyclonal antibody (HPA045168)

Anti-PDCD1 monoclonal antibody (AMAb91197)

Anti-PIK3CA monoclonal antibody (AMAb91513)

Anti-PIK3CA monoclonal antibody (AMAb91514)

Anti-PIK3CB monoclonal antibody (AMAb91585)

Anti-RIPK1 polyclonal antibody (HPA015257)

Anti-RIPK2 polyclonal antibody (HPA015273)

Anti-RIPK3 polyclonal antibody (HPA055087)

Anti-ULK1 polyclonal antibody (HPA063990)

Reference