NKX2.2 antibody is a valuable tool in diagnostic pathology and research, primarily targeting the NKX2.2 protein encoded by the *NKX2-2* gene. This transcription factor belongs to the NKX2 family of homeodomain-containing proteins, which play critical roles in embryonic development, particularly in the differentiation of the central nervous system, pancreas, and lungs. NKX2.2 is essential for specifying neuronal and endocrine cell lineages, with its expression tightly regulated during neurogenesis and pancreatic β-cell development.
In diagnostic contexts, NKX2.2 antibody is widely used to identify tumors of neural and neuroendocrine origin. It is a sensitive marker for Ewing sarcoma, a malignant bone/soft tissue tumor characterized by *EWSR1* gene rearrangements. NKX2.2 immunohistochemical positivity helps differentiate Ewing sarcoma from histologic mimics like small round blue cell tumors (e.g., lymphomas or rhabdomyosarcoma). It also aids in diagnosing other neuroendocrine neoplasms, such as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and olfactory neuroblastoma. However, specificity varies, and results must be interpreted alongside clinical, morphologic, and molecular data.
Research applications include studying developmental biology, neuroendocrine differentiation pathways, and tumorigenesis mechanisms. Commercial NKX2.2 antibodies are typically monoclonal, validated for immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or immunofluorescence (IF), with reactivity across human and murine tissues.