Artemin (ARTN), a member of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family, plays a critical role in neuronal development, survival, and maintenance. It binds to the GDNF family receptor alpha-3 (GFRα3) and activates the RET tyrosine kinase receptor, triggering downstream signaling pathways like PI3K/AKT and MAPK. These pathways support neuron survival, axon guidance, and synaptic plasticity, particularly in sensory and sympathetic neurons. Artemin is also implicated in pathological conditions, including cancer progression and neuropathic pain, where its overexpression in tumors (e.g., breast, pancreatic) correlates with metastasis and therapy resistance.
Artemin antibodies are tools designed to detect, quantify, or inhibit ARTN activity. Monoclonal or polyclonal variants are used in research to study ARTN's biological roles via techniques like Western blot, immunohistochemistry, or ELISA. Neutralizing antibodies, which block ARTN-GFRα3 interaction, help explore its functional contributions to diseases and may have therapeutic potential. For instance, inhibiting ARTN in preclinical models reduces pain hypersensitivity and cancer cell invasiveness. However, therapeutic applications remain experimental, requiring further validation of efficacy and safety. Overall, Artemin antibodies are vital for elucidating ARTN's dual roles in neural health and disease, offering insights for novel treatment strategies.