CH25H antibodies are immunological reagents designed to detect and quantify the CH25H enzyme, which catalyzes cholesterol conversion to 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC). This oxysterol modulates cholesterol homeostasis, inflammation, and antiviral responses . CH25H is an interferon-stimulated gene (ISG), making its antibody essential for studying innate immunity and metabolic pathways .
CH25H antibodies are widely used in:
Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Localizing CH25H expression in tissues like mouse kidney .
Western Blot (WB): Detecting CH25H in cell lysates (e.g., THP-1 cells) .
Functional Studies: Investigating CH25H’s role in viral inhibition, inflammasome regulation, and T cell modulation .
Antiviral Activity: CH25H expression is induced by interferons and TLR activation, with 25HC blocking viral entry (e.g., SARS-CoV-2) by altering membrane cholesterol .
Inflammasome Regulation: CH25H-deficient macrophages overproduce IL-1β due to impaired SREBP and NLRP3 pathway modulation .
Macrophages: CH25H maintains mitochondrial integrity to prevent AIM2 inflammasome activation .
T Cells: IL-27 induces CH25H in CD4+ T cells, producing 25HC to suppress bystander T cell proliferation via cholesterol biosynthesis inhibition .
Specificity: CH25H antibodies (e.g., ab214295) show reactivity in mouse tissues, validated via IHC and WB .
Functional Assays: Knockdown studies in Ch25h−/− mice confirm antibody reliability in tracking CH25H’s role in lung injury and colitis .
Inflammatory Diseases: CH25H deficiency exacerbates colitis and dermatitis, highlighting its protective role in barrier function .
Vaccine Development: 25HC enhances antigen-specific IFN-γ responses while suppressing proinflammatory cytokines, aiding HIV/SIV vaccine strategies .
CH25H (Cholesterol 25-hydroxylase) is a key enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of cholesterol to 25-hydroxycholesterol (25OHC). This enzyme plays critical roles in cholesterol metabolism and immune regulation. The 25OHC metabolite produced by CH25H functions as a potent modulator of immune responses and inflammatory processes . CH25H has a calculated molecular weight of approximately 32 kDa and consists of 272 amino acids based on its sequence data . Research has identified CH25H as a metabolic switch that constrains T cell effector expansion in tissues through its metabolite 25OHC, highlighting its importance in immune homeostasis .
CH25H antibodies have been validated for multiple research applications:
| Antibody Source | Validated Applications | Recommended Dilutions |
|---|---|---|
| PACO51418 | ELISA, IHC | ELISA: 1:2000-1:10000, IHC: 1:20-1:200 |
| Proteintech (16734-1-AP) | IP, IHC, ELISA | IP: 0.5-4.0 μg for 1.0-3.0 mg total protein, IHC: 1:50-1:500 |
| Rockland (600-401-MM8) | WB, ELISA, IHC | Not specified in data |
These applications allow researchers to detect CH25H protein expression in various experimental contexts, including visualization in tissue sections and quantification in cell lysates .
Different CH25H antibodies exhibit varied species reactivity profiles:
| Antibody | Species Reactivity |
|---|---|
| PACO51418 | Human |
| Proteintech 16734-1-AP | Human, mouse, rat |
| Rockland 600-401-MM8 | Human (with predicted cross-reactivity with pig (92%), rat (91%), and mouse (75%) based on sequence homology) |
When selecting an antibody for your research, it's important to verify the species compatibility with your experimental model .
For effective validation of CH25H antibodies, specific positive controls have been documented:
For immunohistochemistry: Human kidney tissues have been used successfully as positive controls
For immunoprecipitation: Mouse liver tissue shows detectable CH25H expression
For Western blot: A band at approximately 31.7 kDa should be expected in appropriate tissue lysates
Using these established positive controls ensures proper validation of antibody specificity and experimental protocols .
To maintain antibody integrity and performance, the following storage and handling protocols are recommended:
Store vials at -20°C prior to opening
For extended storage, aliquot contents and freeze at -20°C or below
Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles
Centrifuge product if not completely clear after standing at room temperature
Most CH25H antibodies remain stable for several weeks at 4°C as undiluted liquid
Dilute only immediately before use
These practices help preserve antibody activity and prevent degradation that could compromise experimental results .
Different manufacturers employ specific buffer formulations to maintain antibody stability:
| Antibody | Buffer Composition |
|---|---|
| PACO51418 | Preservative: 0.03% Proclin 300, Constituents: 50% Glycerol, 0.01M PBS, pH 7.4 |
| Rockland 600-401-MM8 | 0.02 M Potassium Phosphate, 0.15 M Sodium Chloride, pH 7.2, 0.01% (w/v) Sodium Azide |
| Proteintech 16734-1-AP | PBS with 0.02% sodium azide and 50% glycerol, pH 7.3 |
Understanding buffer composition is important when designing experiments, especially when combining antibodies with other reagents or determining compatibility with specific applications .
For optimal antigen detection in IHC applications using CH25H antibodies, specific antigen retrieval protocols have been recommended:
TE buffer (pH 9.0) is suggested as the primary antigen retrieval solution for Proteintech's CH25H antibody
Alternatively, citrate buffer (pH 6.0) may be used if TE buffer produces suboptimal results
The specific antigen retrieval protocol should be optimized for each tissue type and fixation method
Proper antigen retrieval is critical for exposing epitopes that may be masked during fixation processes, thereby improving antibody binding and signal intensity .
Research has revealed complex regulatory mechanisms controlling CH25H expression:
IL-27 is a potent inducer of CH25H expression in CD4+ T cells, more effective than type I interferons
The combination of IL-27 and TGF-β significantly up-regulates CH25H protein expression
CH25H expression is selectively inducible in CD4+ T cells but not in CD8+ T cells
The induction of CH25H expression in T cells occurs in a STAT1-dependent manner
Memory CD4+ T cells can also up-regulate CH25H when stimulated via TCR crosslinking with IL-27
These regulatory pathways highlight the specific contexts in which CH25H is expressed during immune responses, suggesting targeted research approaches .
An important regulatory relationship exists between the transcription factor T-bet and CH25H:
T-bet functions as a negative regulator of CH25H expression
In Tbx21−/− (T-bet knockout) CD4+ T cells, CH25H expression is significantly up-regulated compared to wild-type cells after IL-27 stimulation
Tbx21−/− T cells produce more 25OHC upon IL-27 stimulation than wild-type T cells
IFN-γ, which induces T-bet in TH1 cells, fails to induce CH25H expression in wild-type T cells
In the absence of T-bet, IFN-γ significantly up-regulates CH25H expression
This regulatory mechanism provides insight into how T cell differentiation programs may control CH25H-mediated immune modulation .
The CH25H enzymatic product 25OHC has significant effects on T cell biology:
Activated CD4+ T cells produce minimal 25OHC under standard conditions
IL-27 stimulation promotes approximately sevenfold induction of 25OHC production
The combination of IL-27 and TGF-β causes massive increase in 25OHC production
CH25H-deficient CD4+ T cells are unable to produce 25OHC even when treated with cytokine combinations
25OHC functions as a metabolic switch that constrains excessive bystander T effector expansion in tissues
25OHC down-regulates gene expression of cholesterol biosynthetic enzymes
These findings highlight how CH25H-mediated production of 25OHC serves as an immunoregulatory mechanism affecting T cell responses .
Several methods have been validated for visualizing CH25H protein localization:
Immunofluorescence staining can confirm CH25H protein up-regulation after cytokine treatment
In unstimulated cells, CH25H protein is typically undetectable by immunofluorescence
Immunohistochemistry of paraffin-embedded tissues, such as human colon cancer samples, can reveal CH25H expression patterns
For subcellular localization studies, confocal microscopy combined with organelle-specific markers may be required
These approaches provide spatial information about CH25H expression, complementing biochemical and molecular analyses .
Based on its implicated roles in pathology, several disease models are suitable for investigating CH25H function:
Atherosclerosis models: CH25H dysregulation has been implicated in atherosclerotic processes
Multiple sclerosis models: CH25H may play roles in neuroinflammation and demyelination
Viral infection models: CH25H and 25OHC have been shown to modulate antiviral responses
Inflammatory disorders: CH25H's role in immune regulation makes it relevant to various inflammatory conditions
These disease models provide contexts for studying the physiological and pathological roles of CH25H and potential therapeutic interventions targeting this pathway .
When encountering non-specific binding issues with CH25H antibodies, consider these troubleshooting strategies:
Increase antibody dilution (start with manufacturer's recommended range and titrate further if necessary)
Extend blocking time using 5% BSA or serum from the same species as the secondary antibody
Add 0.1-0.5% Triton X-100 in blocking buffer to reduce non-specific hydrophobic interactions
Perform additional washing steps using PBS with 0.05-0.1% Tween-20
Verify specificity using appropriate positive and negative controls, including CH25H knockout tissues if available
Non-specific binding can compromise data interpretation, making proper optimization critical for reliable results .
Understanding the temporal dynamics of CH25H expression is important for experimental design:
CH25H expression in CD4+ T cells peaks at 24-48 hours after IL-27 stimulation
By day 3, CH25H mRNA expression typically diminishes
Protein expression may persist longer than mRNA expression
The timing of CH25H induction varies depending on the specific stimuli and cell types
These temporal aspects should inform sampling timepoints when designing experiments to study CH25H expression or function .
For researchers interested in the epigenetic control of CH25H expression:
ChIP-seq analysis for histone marks (particularly H3K4me1 and H3K27ac) can identify enhancer regions
Enhancer marks have been detected downstream of the CH25H gene in wild-type cells
T-bet binding sites can be identified through ChIP-seq approaches
DNA methylation analysis of the CH25H promoter may provide additional regulatory insights
ATAC-seq can reveal chromatin accessibility changes at the CH25H locus under different conditions
These approaches can uncover the epigenetic landscape controlling CH25H expression in different cellular contexts .
CH25H antibodies have applications in cancer research contexts:
Immunohistochemistry of paraffin-embedded human colon cancer samples has been performed to assess CH25H expression
Changes in cholesterol metabolism are known to affect cancer cell proliferation and survival
25OHC produced by CH25H may influence tumor microenvironment and immune cell infiltration
Altered CH25H expression patterns could serve as potential biomarkers in certain cancer types
The regulatory role of CH25H in inflammation may be relevant to inflammation-associated cancers
These research directions highlight the potential significance of CH25H beyond its established roles in immune regulation .
For accurate quantification of the CH25H product 25OHC:
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis is the gold standard for precise 25OHC measurement
Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) can also be employed with appropriate standards
Sample preparation requires careful lipid extraction procedures to preserve oxysterol integrity
Internal standards should be used to account for extraction efficiency and instrument variation
CH25H-deficient cells serve as essential negative controls to confirm specificity of detected 25OHC
These methodological considerations ensure reliable quantification of 25OHC when studying CH25H enzymatic activity .