MEN1 antibody is a crucial tool in studying multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by tumors in endocrine tissues such as the parathyroid glands, pancreas, and pituitary. The MEN1 gene, located on chromosome 11q13. encodes the tumor suppressor protein menin, which regulates transcription, genomic stability, and cell proliferation. Loss-of-function mutations in MEN1—germline or somatic—disrupt menin's role in controlling cell cycle progression and apoptosis, leading to tumorigenesis.
MEN1 antibodies are primarily used in research and diagnostics to detect menin expression in tissues or cell lines, aiding in the identification of MEN1-associated tumors and mechanistic studies. In immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blotting, or immunofluorescence, these antibodies help correlate menin loss with clinical manifestations, supporting the diagnosis of MEN1 syndrome or sporadic endocrine tumors. Additionally, they facilitate research into menin's interaction partners (e.g., histone modifiers, transcription factors) and its role in epigenetic regulation.
Validation of MEN1 antibodies is critical due to potential cross-reactivity or variability in specificity. Commercial antibodies are often raised against conserved regions of human menin, with applications spanning basic research to preclinical models. Understanding menin's dysfunction through these antibodies contributes to therapeutic strategies targeting MEN1-deficient cancers.