The ADAMTS18 antibody is a research tool designed to detect and study the ADAMTS18 protein, a member of the ADAMTS (A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin Motifs) family. These secreted enzymes are involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, cell adhesion, and proteolytic processing of bioactive molecules. ADAMTS18. specifically, contains characteristic domains including a propeptide, metalloproteinase, disintegrin-like, thrombospondin type-1 repeats (TSR), and a cysteine-rich region. Though its precise biological roles remain under investigation, ADAMTS18 has been implicated in tumor suppression, angiogenesis, ocular development, and connective tissue homeostasis. Dysregulation of ADAMTS18 is associated with cancers, eye disorders, and vascular diseases.
ADAMTS18 antibodies are typically developed in hosts like rabbits or mice using immunogenic peptide sequences or recombinant protein fragments. They enable detection of endogenous ADAMTS18 via techniques such as Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. Some antibodies may exhibit cross-reactivity across species (e.g., human, mouse, rat), depending on epitope conservation. Commercial antibodies often undergo validation in knockdown/knockout models to confirm specificity. Current research utilizes these antibodies to explore ADAMTS18's tissue distribution, expression patterns in disease states, and molecular interactions. Challenges include limited characterization of isoform-specific antibodies and potential nonspecific binding due to structural similarities within the ADAMTS family. As ADAMTS18 gains attention in cancer and developmental biology, its antibodies remain critical for elucidating its pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic potential.