BRAK Mouse
Description
The CXCL14 is purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques.
Product Specs
Q&A
Here’s a structured collection of FAQs tailored for researchers investigating BRAK/CXCL14 in academic contexts, derived from experimental findings and methodological insights:
What are the primary functional roles of BRAK/CXCL14 in mammalian systems?
BRAK/CXCL14 exhibits dual roles:
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Tumor suppression: Overexpression in transgenic mice reduces Lewis lung carcinoma and B16 melanoma growth by inhibiting angiogenesis (tumor vessel invasion) .
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Neural regulation: Modulates GABAergic synaptic transmission in hippocampal dentate gyrus neural stem cells, affecting calcium signaling and progenitor cell activity .
Methodological approach:
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Use transgenic mouse models (e.g., C57BL/6 J strains with CXCL14 overexpression) combined with tumor xenograft assays .
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For neural studies, employ electrophysiological recordings and calcium imaging in brain slice cultures .
Which experimental models are optimal for studying BRAK/CXCL14 in vivo?
Design considerations:
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Include wild-type littermates as controls for transgenic models.
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For tumor studies, use standardized cell lines (e.g., B16 melanoma) to ensure reproducibility.
How does BRAK/CXCL14 mechanistically suppress tumor progression?
Key findings from xenograft studies:
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Paracrine/endocrine action: CXCL14 secreted by tumor cells or host tissue inhibits angiogenesis (↓CD31⁺ vessels in tumors) .
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Dose dependency: Plasma levels >10× baseline (≥10 ng/ml) are required for suppression .
Contradiction analysis:
While CXCL14 suppresses carcinomas, its role in other cancers (e.g., gliomas) remains untested. Discrepancies may arise from tissue-specific receptor expression or microenvironmental factors.
How can researchers reconcile contradictory data on BRAK/CXCL14’s neuromodulatory effects?
Case example:
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Inhibitory role: CXCL14 reduces tonic GABA currents in dentate gyrus progenitors .
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Contrast with CXCL12: CXCL12 enhances GABA effects, suggesting chemokine-specific regulatory networks .
Resolution strategy:
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Perform receptor profiling (e.g., GPCR binding assays) to identify BRAK-specific pathways.
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Use conditional knockout models to isolate CNS-specific effects from systemic roles.
What advanced techniques resolve BRAK/CXCL14’s spatial expression patterns?
Validation: Pair spatial transcriptomics with functional assays (e.g., calcium imaging) to confirm activity in identified cell types.
Methodological Recommendations
Product Science Overview
CXCL14 is structurally related to other members of the CXC chemokine family but lacks the ELR domain preceding the CXC motif, which is present in some other CXC chemokines . The protein is constitutively expressed at high levels in various normal tissues, including the basal layer of epidermal keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts, and lamina propria cells in the intestines .
CXCL14 displays chemotactic activity specifically for monocytes but not for lymphocytes, dendritic cells, neutrophils, or macrophages . This selective chemotactic activity suggests that CXCL14 plays a role in the homeostasis of monocyte-derived macrophages rather than in inflammatory responses . Additionally, CXCL14 has been implicated in tumor suppression and fat metabolism modulation, making it a potential therapeutic candidate for related diseases .
Recombinant mouse CXCL14/BRAK is typically produced in E. coli expression systems. The recombinant protein is purified using proprietary chromatographic techniques to achieve high purity levels, often exceeding 97-98% as determined by SDS-PAGE and HPLC analyses . The endotoxin levels are kept very low, usually below 0.01 EU per 1 μg of protein .
Recombinant CXCL14/BRAK is used in various research applications, including studies on chemotaxis, immunoregulation, and inflammation. It is also utilized in functional assays to investigate its role in monocyte chemoattraction and its potential therapeutic applications in cancer and metabolic diseases .
