P4H10 is a mouse monoclonal antibody (IgG1 isotype) that specifically recognizes human integrin beta-1 (CD29). The antibody binds to a specific epitope mapped to the amino acid sequence NKGEVFNELVGK (a.a. 207-218) of human integrin beta-1. This antibody was developed using human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells as the immunogen and was deposited to the Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank (DSHB) by researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center .
According to depositor notes, P4H10 antibody performs well with several fixation methods for immunostaining, including:
| Fixation Method | Compatibility | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Formalin | Compatible | Standard histological fixative |
| 4% Paraformaldehyde | Compatible | Common for cell culture and tissue sections |
| Acetone-methanol | Compatible | Useful for certain membrane proteins |
| Ice-cold methanol | Compatible | Good for preserving certain epitopes |
It is worth noting that the epitope recognized by P4H10 is not trypsin-sensitive, which can be advantageous for certain applications where proteolytic treatment is part of the sample preparation protocol .
P4H10 has been validated for multiple research applications, making it versatile for studying integrin beta-1 biology:
| Application | Validation Status | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| ELISA | Validated | Useful for quantitative detection |
| Flow Cytometry (FACS) | Validated | Detects native protein on cell surface |
| FFPE (Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded) | Validated | Compatible with archival tissue samples |
| Function Blocking | Validated | Effective for inhibiting integrin-mediated adhesion |
| Immunofluorescence | Validated | Cellular localization studies |
| Immunohistochemistry | Validated | Tissue expression studies |
| Immunoprecipitation | Validated | Protein complex isolation |
| Western Blot | Contradictory reports | See detailed discussion in section 3.1 |
This antibody recognizes all known isoforms of integrin beta-1, enhancing its utility across different experimental systems .
P4H10 is particularly valuable for functional studies as it exhibits function-blocking activity. According to depositor notes, P4H10 inhibits endodermal cell and keratinocyte attachment to extracellular matrix components including collagen type 1, fibronectin, and laminin. Additionally, it inhibits cell-cell adhesion . This makes it an excellent tool for:
Investigating integrin β1-dependent cell adhesion to specific ECM components
Studying the role of integrin β1 in cellular migration
Examining cell-cell interaction mechanisms
Analyzing integrin-dependent signaling pathways
A typical functional blocking protocol involves pre-incubating cells with P4H10 (10-20 μg/ml) for 30-60 minutes prior to adhesion assays.
To reconcile these conflicting reports, researchers should consider:
Performing side-by-side comparisons with other validated anti-integrin β1 antibodies
Testing different sample preparation methods, particularly using:
Non-denaturing conditions
Mild detergent extraction
Native PAGE rather than SDS-PAGE
Optimizing blocking conditions (5% BSA often performs better than milk for phosphoproteins)
Implementing positive controls from cell types known to express high levels of integrin β1
A systematic evaluation of these parameters should be documented before concluding about the antibody's utility for Western blot in your specific experimental system.
When using P4H10 for flow cytometry applications, several technical aspects should be considered:
Cell preparation: Since P4H10 recognizes native protein conformations, avoid harsh fixation methods that might denature the epitope.
Titration: Perform antibody titration (typically 0.1-10 μg/ml) to determine optimal concentration for your specific cell type.
Controls:
Include isotype control (mouse IgG1)
Use cell lines with known high (e.g., HT-1080) and low/negative expression of integrin β1
Consider a blocking experiment to confirm specificity
Staining protocol example:
Harvest cells using enzyme-free dissociation buffer to preserve surface integrins
Resuspend 1×10^6 cells in 100 μl staining buffer (PBS + 1% BSA)
Add P4H10 (starting at 1 μg per 10^6 cells)
Incubate for 30 minutes at 4°C
Wash twice with staining buffer
Add appropriate fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibody
Incubate for 30 minutes at 4°C in the dark
Wash twice and analyze
Validating antibody specificity is crucial, particularly when applying P4H10 to new cell types or experimental systems:
Genetic validation:
Peptide competition:
Pre-incubate P4H10 with excess synthetic peptide containing the epitope sequence (NKGEVFNELVGK)
This should abolish specific binding
Multiple antibody approach:
Compare staining patterns with other validated anti-ITGB1 antibodies targeting different epitopes
Concordant results increase confidence in specificity
Mass spectrometry validation:
Perform immunoprecipitation with P4H10 followed by mass spectrometry
Confirm ITGB1 as the predominant precipitated protein
When selecting an antibody for integrin β1 research, it's important to consider how P4H10 compares to alternatives:
| Antibody | Epitope | Species Reactivity | Function Blocking | Special Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P4H10 | a.a. 207-218 | Human | Yes | Strong inhibition of ECM adhesion |
| AIIB2 | Not mapped | Human, Mouse, Rat | Yes | Commonly used in tumor studies |
| TS2/16 | Not mapped | Human | No (activating) | Induces conformational change |
| mAb13 | Not mapped | Human, Mouse | Yes | Well-characterized for blocking |
| 9EG7 | Activation-dependent | Human, Mouse | No | Reports activation state |
This comparative information can guide researchers in selecting the most appropriate antibody based on their specific experimental needs and model systems.
For optimal immunohistochemical staining with P4H10:
Antigen retrieval:
Heat-induced epitope retrieval in citrate buffer (pH 6.0) is recommended
Pressure cooker methods may enhance epitope accessibility
Section thickness:
4-5 μm sections are optimal for most applications
Thicker sections may require adjusted incubation times
Blocking:
Include both protein block (e.g., 5% normal goat serum) and endogenous peroxidase block
Consider biotin/avidin blocking if using biotin-based detection systems
Primary antibody incubation:
Start with 1:100 dilution (adjust based on titration)
Overnight incubation at 4°C often yields best signal-to-noise ratio
Counterstaining:
Light hematoxylin counterstain prevents masking of DAB signal
For fluorescence, DAPI nuclear stain provides good contrast
When incorporating P4H10 into multiplexed immunofluorescence or immunohistochemistry:
Antibody panel design:
Since P4H10 is a mouse IgG1, avoid other mouse IgG1 antibodies in the same panel
Consider using antibodies from different host species or different mouse IgG subclasses
Sequential staining approaches:
For same-species antibodies, consider tyramide signal amplification with heat-mediated stripping between rounds
Alternatively, directly conjugated P4H10 can avoid secondary antibody cross-reactivity
Spectral considerations:
When selecting fluorophores, account for the cellular distribution of integrin β1 (primarily membrane)
Choose spectrally distinct fluorophores for markers expected to co-localize with integrin β1
Controls for multiplexed imaging:
Single-stained controls are essential for spectral unmixing
Isotype controls should be included for each antibody class used
| Issue | Possible Causes | Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| High background | Insufficient blocking, high antibody concentration | Increase blocking time/concentration, titrate antibody, add 0.1-0.3% Triton X-100 to blocking buffer |
| Weak or no signal | Epitope masking, low target expression | Optimize antigen retrieval, increase antibody concentration or incubation time, verify target expression in sample |
| Non-specific bands in Western blot | Protein degradation, cross-reactivity | Use fresh samples with protease inhibitors, optimize blocking conditions, reduce primary antibody concentration |
| Variable staining intensity | Fixation artifacts, processing inconsistencies | Standardize fixation protocol, process all samples identically, include positive control in each experiment |
| Loss of function-blocking activity | Antibody denaturation, interference from buffer components | Avoid freeze-thaw cycles, check buffer compatibility, prepare fresh dilutions |
For successful co-immunoprecipitation of integrin β1 complexes using P4H10:
Lysis conditions:
Use mild, non-denaturing lysis buffers (e.g., 1% NP-40 or CHAPS)
Include protease and phosphatase inhibitors
Maintain physiological pH (7.4-7.6)
Pre-clearing:
Pre-clear lysates with protein G beads to reduce non-specific binding
Optional: pre-incubate with irrelevant mouse IgG1
Antibody binding:
Use 2-5 μg of P4H10 per 500 μg of total protein
Incubate overnight at 4°C with gentle rotation
Bead selection:
Protein G Sepharose has higher affinity for mouse IgG1 than Protein A
Pre-block beads with BSA to reduce non-specific binding
Washing stringency:
Balance between preserving interactions (mild washing) and reducing background (stringent washing)
Typically 4-5 washes with decreasing detergent concentration
This approach will help maintain native protein-protein interactions while minimizing non-specific binding.
Recent advances in integrin biology have expanded the applications of function-blocking antibodies like P4H10:
Cancer research applications:
Studying integrin β1's role in cancer cell invasion and metastasis
Investigating resistance mechanisms to targeted therapies
Exploring combination approaches with integrin inhibition
Stem cell research:
Modulating integrin-ECM interactions during differentiation
Investigating niche interactions in stem cell maintenance
Optimizing culture conditions for stem cell expansion
Drug discovery applications:
As a tool for validating small molecule integrin β1 inhibitors
In phage display studies for developing new therapeutic antibodies
For identifying novel integrin β1 interaction partners as drug targets
The search results reference light chain shuffling for antibody optimization. When considering similar approaches with P4H10 or related antibodies:
Library construction considerations:
Maintain the heavy chain CDRs that primarily determine epitope specificity
Design appropriate frameworks for the shuffled light chains
Consider the diversity of the light chain library (naïve vs. immune)
Selection strategy:
Define clear parameters for improved antibodies (affinity, specificity, function)
Design appropriate screening assays that reflect the intended application
Include competitive elution steps to select higher-affinity variants
Validation requirements:
Confirm retained epitope specificity after light chain shuffling
Verify improved properties using quantitative assays
Test cross-reactivity with related integrins to ensure specificity is maintained
This approach can potentially generate improved variants of P4H10 with enhanced properties for specific research applications .
There is potential confusion in the literature between:
P4H10 antibody (against integrin β1/CD29)
P4H10 subfamily of prolyl-4-hydroxylases (enzymes)
To properly differentiate:
Literature search strategies:
Use precise search terms: "P4H10 antibody AND integrin" vs. "P4H10 prolyl hydroxylase"
Include catalog numbers or clone identifiers when searching for antibody information
Check for contextual clues about whether the reference is to the enzyme or antibody
Referencing in publications:
Clearly specify "P4H10 anti-integrin β1 antibody" rather than just "P4H10"
Include clone information, manufacturer, and catalog numbers
For the enzyme, use full nomenclature "prolyl-4-hydroxylase P4H10 subfamily"
This distinction is particularly important as recent research has focused on P4H10 enzyme subfamily in plants and their role in O-glycosylation .