SOX-9 Monoclonal Antibody (ZM171), MonoMab™

Product Specific Information

This product is diluted and in a ready-to-use formulation.

A recommended positive control tissue for this product is Pancreas, however positive controls are not limited to this tissue type.

The primary antibody is intended for laboratory professional use in the detection of the corresponding protein in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue stained in manual qualitative immunohistochemistry (IHC) testing. This antibody is intended to be used after the primary diagnosis of tumor has been made by conventional histopathology using non-immunological histochemical stains.

Sox genes comprise a family of genes that are related to the mammalian sex-determining gene SRY. These genes similarly contain sequences that encode for the HMG-box domain, which is responsible for the sequence-specific DNA-binding activity. Sox genes encode putative transcriptional regulators implicated in the decision of cell fates during development and the control of diverse developmental processes. SOX9 plays an important role in the normal skeletal development. It may regulate the expression of other genes involved in chondrogenesis by acting as a transcription factor for these genes.

Antibody is used with formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections. Pretreatment of deparaffinized tissue with heat-induced epitope retrieval or enzymatic retrieval is recommended. In general, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining techniques allow for the visualization of antigens via the sequential application of a specific antibody to the antigen (primary antibody), a secondary antibody to the primary antibody (link antibody), an enzyme complex and a chromogenic substrate with interposed washing steps. The enzymatic activation of the chromogen results in a visible reaction product at the antigen site. Results are interpreted using a light microscope and aid in the differential diagnosis of pathophysiological processes, which may or may not be associated with a particular antigen.

A positive tissue control must be run with every staining procedure performed. This tissue may contain both positive and negative staining cells or tissue components and serve as both the positive and negative control tissue. External Positive control materials should be fresh autopsy/biopsy/surgical specimens fixed, processed and embedded as soon as possible in the same manner as the patient sample (s). Positive tissue controls are indicative of correctly prepared tissues and proper staining methods. The tissues used for the external positive control materials should be selected from the patient specimens with well-characterized low levels of the positive target activity that gives weak positive staining. The low level of positivity for external positive controls is designed to ensure detection of subtle changes in the primary antibody sensitivity from instability or problems with the staining methodology. A tissue with weak positive staining is more suitable for optimal quality control and for detecting minor levels of reagent degradation.

Internal or external negative control tissue may be used depending on the guidelines and policies that govern the organization to which the end user belongs to. The variety of cell types present in many tissue sections offers internal negative control sites, but this should be verified by the user. The components that do not stain should demonstrate the absence of specific staining, and provide an indication of non-specific background staining. If specific staining occurs in the negative tissue control sites, results with the patient specimens must be considered invalid.

Target Information

SOX9 has a role in sex determination and differentiation of Sertoli cells. It is involved in chondrogenesis and regulates the expression of other genes involved in chondrogenesis by acting as a transcription factor for these genes. Translocation of this gene can cause campomelic dysplasia. SOX9 is involved in the formation of testes from the indifferent fetal gonads. It is a major molecular component of the neuron-glia switch in developing spinal cord. During normal development, SOX9 allows the prostate epithelium to outgrow into the mesenchyme and then provides basal cell support for development and maintenance of the luminal epithelium. These functions of SOX9 are subverted in prostate cancer to support tumor growth and invasion. SOX9 may direct the formation of neural crest precursors and the development of a range of neural crest derivative. It has a transcriptional regulation in melanin production in cells. Northern blot analysis shows its expression on adult testis, adult heart, and fetal brain.