Validation of antibodies for the specific detection of human TRPA1

Sci Rep. 2019 Dec 6;9(1):18500. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-55133-7.

Abstract

The transient receptor potential cation channel family member ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is a potential target for several diseases, but detection of human TRPA1 (hTRPA1) protein in cells and tissues is problematic as rigorous antibody validation is lacking. We expressed hTRPA1 in a TRPA1-negative cell line to evaluate 5 commercially available antibodies by western blotting, immunofluorescence, immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. The three most cited anti-TRPA1 antibodies lacked sensitivity and/or specificity, but two mouse monoclonal anti-TRPA1 antibodies detected hTRPA1 specifically in the above assays. This enabled the development of a flow cytometry assay, which demonstrated strong expression of TRPA1 in human lung myofibroblasts, human airway smooth muscle cells but not lung mast cells. The most cited anti-TRPA1 antibodies lack sensitivity and/or specificity for hTRPA1. We have identified two anti-TRPA1 antibodies which detect hTRPA1 specifically. Previously published data regarding human TRPA1 protein expression may need revisiting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / chemistry*
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium Signaling
  • Epitopes / chemistry
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lung / cytology
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / metabolism*
  • Myofibroblasts / metabolism*
  • TRPA1 Cation Channel / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Epitopes
  • TRPA1 Cation Channel
  • TRPA1 protein, human
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Calcium