Self-renewal and differentiation capacities into multiple cell-types are 2 main characteristics of Stem Cells. Contrarily to Embryonic Stem Cells, Adult Stem Cells (ASC) are already committed to a differentiated lineage. Nevertheless, ASC still retain capacities of generating various cell types within their restricted lineage. It’s thus crucial to be able to access high quality and reliable research tools when tracking cell differentiation. Here, we’ll review the most popular reagents used to characterize the ectodermal lineage.
Found in various tissues of the adult body, ASC are composed of various lineage-engaged cell types. Issued from the ectoderm, Neural Stem Cell (NSC) and Epidermal Stem Cell (ESC) types are among the most characterized ones.
Many antibody-based or fluorescent-based research tools are now available to conveniently measure the differentiation of Stem cells and iPS cells (iPSC). A few examples:
- iPSC and NSC screening assays,
- Fluorogenic substrates for detecting Alkaline Phosphatase and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase activity
- Anti GFAP antibodies as an ectodermal biomarker
- Anti beta III-tubulin antibodies and Anti MAP2 as ectodermal biomarkers
- Anti alpha-smooth muscle actin, Anti Desmin antibodies, and Anti beta-enolase as mesodermal biomarkers
Let’s take a look at the most popular research antibodies used by researchers seeking to further characterize NSC and ESC in immuno-assays. This selection will lead you to lists of high quality antibodies with user-friendly filters to help you find the antibodies suited to your applications (WB, IP, ICC, IF, FCM, ELISA…).
Neural Stem Cells (NSC) biomarkers
FoxA2 has been recently identified as a pivotal transcription factor in the specification and final differentiation of the DA phenotype and the differentiation of human ESC into DA neurons. Therefore, antibodies related to the Fox transcription factor family are more and more popular in stem cell research.
In the adult, NSCs play an important role in the repair of the Central Nervous System and the neurological functions. One might prefer to characterize NSC by identifying intracellular or surface biomarkers.
Here’s our selection:
![IHC-p with the anti Fibronectin antibody ([N1N2] cat. nr GTX112794). Source: GeneTex and tebu-bio.](https://www.tebubio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/gtx112794_40079_ihc-300x211.jpg)
![IF with CRABP2 antibody [N1C3] (cat. nr GTX101551). Source: GeneTex and tebu-bio.](https://www.tebubio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/gtx101551_40268_ifa-300x119.jpg)
NCS surface biomarkers
- Anti CD81
- Anti CD95
- Anti CXCR4
- Anti Notch 1 and tools to study the Notch pathway
NSC intracellular biomarkers
Epidermal Stem Cells (ESC) biomarkers
ESC brings optimal skin homeostasis, wound-repair, and regenerative capacities. To follow the development of ESC, biomarkers analysed can be the following:
What about you?
As ASC knowledge evolves, many other new biomarkers are identified. Which markers are you tracking for your studies concerning Neural and Epidermal Stem Cells? Looking for a specific biomarker in a particular immuno-assay? Leave your comment here!
