COL6 Antibody

Introduction to COL6 Antibody

COL6 antibodies are specialized immunological tools designed to target collagen type VI (COL6), a key extracellular matrix (ECM) protein involved in tissue structure, cell signaling, and disease pathology. COL6 is a beaded filament collagen composed of three alpha chains (α1, α2, α3) that form a microfibrillar network, influencing cell adhesion, migration, and ECM remodeling . Antibodies against COL6 are widely used in research and diagnostics to study its role in gastrointestinal disorders, fibrosis, cancer, and neurological conditions .

Composition and Types of COL6 Antibodies

COL6 antibodies vary in specificity, clonality, and applications:

Gastrointestinal Disorders

• Biomarker Detection: A competitive ELISA using a COL6α3-targeting monoclonal antibody (C6Mα3) demonstrated elevated serum levels in ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn’s disease (CD), and colorectal cancer (CRC) patients compared to healthy controls (AUROC: 0.890–0.972) .

• Pathological Role: COL6α3 fragments are linked to ECM remodeling in IBD and CRC, driven by MMP-2/9 activity .

Fibrosis and Cancer

• Fibrotic Signaling: COL6 regulates myofibroblast contractility, chemotaxis, and immune cell recruitment via EP300-mediated pathways . In glioblastoma (GBM), COL6 sustains stem-like properties and chemotherapy resistance by modulating DNA repair genes (e.g., ATM/ATR) .

• Diagnostic Utility: PRO-COL6/endotrophin, a COL6α3 cleavage product, serves as a biomarker in IPF and cancer progression .

Neuroscience

• Axon Guidance: Recombinant COL6α2 promotes axon bundle formation via NCAM1 upregulation, with reduced immunogenicity compared to full-length COL6 .

Emerging Innovations

• Collablot Assays: A novel in-cell/on-cell Western method quantifies COL6 expression and structural organization in patient-derived cultures, aiding diagnostics for COL6-related dystrophies .

• Therapeutic Targeting: Antibody blocking of COL6α2 reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-17A) while enhancing anti-inflammatory signals (e.g., IL-10) in preclinical models .