α-2M Antibody (9A3): sc-81541

α-2M Antibody (9A3) is a mouse monoclonal IgG2b antibody that detects α-2M in human samples through applications such as western blotting (WB), immunoprecipitation (IP), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Anti-α-2M antibody (9A3) recognizes the homotetrameric serum protein α-2M, which consists of four identical subunits that dimerize via disulfide bonds. α-2M (9A3) antibody targets a protein that plays a crucial role in the regulation of proteolytic activity in the serum, acting as a pan-proteinase inhibitor that can "bait" proteinases into cleaving specific peptide sequences on its structure. Upon this interaction, α-2M undergoes a conformational change that allows α-2M to effectively trap and inhibit the activity of the proteinase, thereby preventing excessive proteolysis that could lead to tissue damage. Additionally, α-2M functions as a carrier protein for various cytokines, including transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which are vital in mediating inflammatory responses. The binding of TGFβ to α-2M renders TGFβ inactive, while the interaction with IL-6 enhances IL-6′s local concentration near immune and stem cells, facilitating the inflammatory cascade. Notably, mutations and deletions in the gene encoding α-2M have been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer′s Disease, highlighting α-2M′s importance in the clearance and degradation of amyloid-beta, a key component in the pathology of this neurodegenerative disorder.

The preferred α-2M antibody is α-2M Antibody (H-8): sc-390544.