Mouse Monoclonal ITGB4 Antibody

The ITGB4 antibody targets integrin beta-4 (ITGB4), a transmembrane protein that forms part of the α6β4 integrin heterodimer. This integrin is primarily expressed in epithelial cells, where it plays a critical role in cell-matrix adhesion by binding to laminins in the basement membrane. ITGB4 is unique among integrin subunits due to its unusually long cytoplasmic tail, which interacts with cytoskeletal proteins like plectin and signaling molecules, facilitating mechanotransduction and stable anchorage through hemidesmosomes. Dysregulation of ITGB4 is implicated in pathologies such as cancer and epidermolysis bullosa. In cancer, ITGB4 overexpression promotes tumor invasion, metastasis, and resistance to apoptosis by activating pathways like PI3K/AKT and RAS-MAPK. Conversely, mutations in ITGB4 are linked to epidermolysis bullosa, a blistering skin disorder. Antibodies against ITGB4 are essential tools in research and diagnostics, enabling the detection of protein expression in tissues (e.g., via immunohistochemistry) or cell lysates (e.g., Western blot). They also hold therapeutic potential, as blocking ITGB4 may inhibit cancer progression. However, challenges remain in ensuring antibody specificity and optimizing clinical applications. Studies continue to explore ITGB4's dual role in adhesion and signaling, underscoring its importance in both normal physiology and disease. (Word count: 248)