Invitrogen™ CD138 Polyclonal Antibody

Description

This antibody reacts with the human Syndecan-1 (CD38) protein. On western blots, a single band at ~90 kDa representing the glycosylated form of CD138; occasionally a band of ~31 kDa representing the un-glycosylated form of CD138 may be observed. Reactivity has been confirmed with human T47D, SW-480, and PC-3 cell lysates by western blotting and with formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human gastric cancer and breast cancer tissues, and mouse and rat stomach, small bowel, and skin tissues by immunohistochemistry. For best results in immunohistochemistry with formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, heat induced epitope retrieval (HIER) with EDTA, pH 8.0, is required prior to staining.

CD138 (syndecan 1) is a transmembrane proteoglycan that can bind a variety of cytokines and modulate their activity, as well as the activity of extracellular matrix components and influence many developmental processes. CD138 is expressed mainly in differentiating keratinocytes and is transiently upregulated in all layers of the epidermis upon tissue injury. It is also highly expressed on plasma cells and can be detected even on fibroblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. Up-regulation and down-regulation of CD138 on the cell surface often correlates with the gain of cancerous characteristics. Serum levels of the shedded soluble sCD138 are used as a prognostic factor of cancerogenesis.