TFPI2 (Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor 2) is a Kunitz-type serine proteinase inhibitor that is associated with the extracellular matrix. It functions as a potent tumor suppressor gene that inhibits a variety of serine proteases including factor VIIa/tissue factor, factor Xa, plasmin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and plasma kallikrein . Low expression of TFPI-2 results in enhanced growth and metastasis of various human tumors .
TFPI2 has multiple biological functions:
Tumor suppression: TFPI2 suppresses cell proliferation through regulation of ERK signaling pathway .
Anti-invasion properties: It interacts with proteins like myosin-9 and actinin-4 to inhibit cancer cell invasion .
Immune modulation: TFPI2 protects against gram-negative bacterial infection and plays a role in host defense .
Matrix protection: It prevents the proteolytic degradation of the extracellular matrix .
TFPI2 Antibody, HRP conjugated typically has the following specifications:
Immunogen: Recombinant Human Tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 protein (amino acids 23-235) .
Host species: Available as rabbit polyclonal or mouse monoclonal antibodies.
Reactivity: Primarily human-specific, though some variants may cross-react with other species .
Applications: Primarily used in ELISA, but some variants are suitable for Western blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) .
Storage buffer: Typically contains preservatives like 0.03% Proclin 300 and constituents like 50% Glycerol in PBS, pH 7.4 .
Storage conditions: Recommended storage at -20°C or -80°C, avoiding repeated freeze-thaw cycles .
Conjugation: Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for direct detection without secondary antibodies .
For optimal results in ELISA applications:
Antibody titration: Begin with a dilution series (1:500, 1:1000, 1:2000, 1:5000) to determine optimal concentration that provides adequate signal with minimal background .
Blocking optimization: Use 1-5% BSA or 3-5% non-fat dry milk in PBS or TBS to reduce non-specific binding.
Incubation conditions: For primary incubation, maintain a consistent temperature (room temperature or 4°C) and time (1-2 hours at room temperature or overnight at 4°C).
Substrate selection: Choose the appropriate HRP substrate (TMB, ABTS, or OPD) based on your detection system and sensitivity requirements.
Validation controls:
Include a standard curve using recombinant TFPI2 protein
Use positive control samples known to express TFPI2
Include negative controls (no primary antibody, no sample)
Consider using tissue samples with known differential TFPI2 expression, similar to the hepatocarcinoma vs. normal hepatic tissues comparison showing scores of 22.54±1.22 vs. 46.60±1.80 respectively .
Recognize multiple epitopes on the TFPI2 antigen
Often raised in rabbits against recombinant human TFPI2 (e.g., AA 23-235)
May provide higher sensitivity due to binding of multiple epitopes
Better for detecting denatured proteins in applications like Western blot
Useful for initial characterization of TFPI2 expression patterns
Recognize a single epitope on the TFPI2 antigen
Provide consistent lot-to-lot reproducibility
Higher specificity for a particular domain or region of TFPI2
More suitable for quantitative assays requiring reproducible results
Used in applications requiring high specificity like distinguishing between closely related protein domains
The choice between monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies depends on your experimental needs. For screening or detecting TFPI2 in varied contexts, polyclonal antibodies may be preferable. For specific epitope targeting or quantitative analysis, monoclonal antibodies usually offer superior consistency.
TFPI2 has been shown to interact with several proteins including myosin-9 and actinin-4, which play important roles in cell migration and invasion . To study these interactions:
Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) followed by immunoblotting:
Use TFPI2 antibody to pull down TFPI2 complexes
Analyze precipitates by Western blot probing for suspected interaction partners
Perform reciprocal Co-IP using antibodies against potential binding partners
Domain mapping approach:
Proximity ligation assay (PLA):
Utilize TFPI2 antibody alongside antibodies against potential interaction partners
This method allows visualization of protein-protein interactions in situ
Immunofluorescence co-localization:
Use fluorescently labeled antibodies to visualize co-localization of TFPI2 with candidate proteins
Follow with confocal microscopy and co-localization analysis
Remember that full-length TFPI-2 does not simultaneously complex with myosin-9 and actinin-4, as indicated by Co-IP experiments , suggesting these interactions may be mutually exclusive or context-dependent.
TFPI2 has been recognized as a potent tumor suppressor gene, and its expression is reduced in various cancers. To investigate this function:
Expression analysis in tumor vs. normal tissues:
Use immunohistochemistry (IHC) with TFPI2 antibody to compare expression levels
In hepatocellular carcinoma studies, TFPI-2 immunostaining scores were significantly lower in tumor tissues (22.54±1.22) compared to normal hepatic tissues (46.60±1.80)
Analyze correlation between TFPI2 expression and clinical parameters, as demonstrated in this breast cancer data table:
| Parameters | Number of patients | TFPI2 mRNA expression | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tumor size: T1-2 | 26 | 18 (low) / 8 (high) | 0.005* |
| Tumor size: T3-4 | 24 | 7 (low) / 17 (high) | - |
| Metastasis: M0 | 32 | 20 (low) / 12 (high) | 0.018* |
| Metastasis: M1 | 18 | 5 (low) / 13 (high) | - |
| Pathological stage: I-II | 29 | 19 (low) / 10 (high) | 0.010* |
| Pathological stage: III-IV | 21 | 6 (low) / 15 (high) | - |
Functional studies:
Establish stable cell lines overexpressing TFPI2 in cancer cell models
Use TFPI2 antibody to confirm protein expression by Western blot
Measure effects on:
Pathway analysis:
When studying TFPI2 expression across different tissues, researchers should consider:
Tissue-specific expression patterns:
TFPI-2 shows differential basal expression across tissues
During endotoxin-induced inflammation, TFPI-2 expression increases dramatically in specific tissues:
Sample preparation optimization:
For tissue sections: Proper fixation is crucial (typically 10% neutral buffered formalin)
Antigen retrieval methods may need tissue-specific optimization (citrate buffer pH 6.0 or EDTA buffer pH 9.0)
For cell/tissue lysates: Different extraction buffers may be required for different tissues
Controls:
Detection methods:
Post-translational modifications:
For multiplex analysis incorporating TFPI2 with other biomarkers:
Sequential immunostaining approach:
Use TFPI2 antibody, HRP conjugated as the first detection antibody
Develop with a chromogenic substrate specific for HRP (e.g., DAB)
Perform heat-mediated stripping of the antibody
Proceed with subsequent antibodies using different detection systems
This approach works well for tissue sections in studies examining multiple markers
Multiplex ELISA optimization:
Use TFPI2 antibody, HRP conjugated alongside other directly labeled antibodies
Ensure no cross-reactivity between antibodies (test each antibody individually)
Optimize blocking conditions to minimize background across all antibodies
Validate antibody combinations using known positive and negative samples
Co-localization studies:
When studying TFPI2's relationship with binding partners like myosin-9 and actinin-4:
Use TFPI2 antibody, HRP conjugated with a chromogenic substrate
Use fluorescently labeled antibodies for other proteins
Perform digital overlay analysis
Biomarker panel development:
When incorporating TFPI2 into cancer biomarker panels:
Include markers for related pathways (e.g., ERK signaling components)
Include tissue-specific control markers
Normalize expression data to appropriate housekeeping proteins
Clinical sample analysis presents several challenges for TFPI2 detection:
Low expression levels:
Sample heterogeneity:
Clinical samples often contain mixed cell populations
Solution: Combine laser capture microdissection with sensitive detection methods
Use dual staining approaches to correlate TFPI2 with cell-type specific markers
Pre-analytical variables:
Time to fixation, fixative type, and processing can affect TFPI2 detection
Solution: Standardize pre-analytical protocols and document deviations
Validate the antibody with samples processed under different conditions
Proteolytic processing:
Quantification challenges:
To ensure antibody specificity:
Positive and negative controls:
Blocking peptide competition:
Pre-incubate the antibody with excess recombinant TFPI2 protein (immunogen)
Compare staining patterns with and without blocking peptide
Specific staining should be significantly reduced with blocking peptide
Multiple detection methods:
Validation across applications:
Perform Western blot to confirm antibody specificity by molecular weight
Verify immunoprecipitation capability with known TFPI2 interaction partners
Test antibody in different applications (ELISA, IHC, etc.)
TFPI2 plays a significant role in inflammation and host defense:
Expression analysis during inflammation:
TFPI2 in bacterial infection models:
Complement activation studies:
Clinical relevance in inflammatory conditions:
To investigate TFPI2's role in ERK signaling:
Expression manipulation studies:
Establish cell lines with:
TFPI2 overexpression
TFPI2 knockdown/knockout
Domain-specific TFPI2 mutants
Use TFPI2 antibody to confirm expression levels by Western blot
Signaling pathway analysis:
Assess the phosphorylation status of ERK1/2 in response to TFPI2 manipulation
Research shows TFPI2 overexpression decreases phosphorylation of ERK1/2
Monitor translocation of p-ERK1/2 from cytoplasm to nucleus
Experimental design should include:
Time-course analysis after TFPI2 manipulation
Growth factor stimulation to activate ERK pathway
Interaction studies:
Investigate if TFPI2 directly or indirectly affects ERK phosphorylation
Examine potential interactions with upstream components of ERK pathway
Use co-immunoprecipitation followed by Western blot analysis
Functional readouts:
Assess changes in:
Cell proliferation (MTT assay)
Cell invasion (Transwell invasion assays)
Gene expression profiles (qRT-PCR of ERK target genes)
Determine if ERK pathway inhibitors can mimic TFPI2's effects
If experiencing high background or non-specific binding:
Optimize blocking conditions:
Test different blocking agents (BSA, non-fat dry milk, normal serum)
Increase blocking time (1-2 hours at room temperature or overnight at 4°C)
Add 0.1-0.3% Triton X-100 to reduce hydrophobic interactions
Antibody dilution optimization:
Buffer modifications:
Add 0.1-0.5% Tween-20 to wash buffers
Consider adding 0.1-0.5M NaCl to reduce ionic interactions
For tissue sections, include 0.3% hydrogen peroxide treatment to block endogenous peroxidase activity
Sample preparation improvements:
Ensure proper fixation and processing of samples
For frozen sections, allow complete drying before fixation
For cell lysates, ensure thorough removal of detergents through dialysis
Control experiments:
Include no-primary antibody controls
Use isotype control antibodies at the same concentration
Pre-absorb antibody with recombinant TFPI2 protein
To maintain antibody performance over time:
Storage conditions:
Working dilution preparation:
Thaw antibody on ice
Prepare fresh working dilutions on the day of experiment
Do not store diluted antibody for extended periods
HRP stability considerations:
Protect from light to prevent photobleaching of HRP
Avoid exposure to heavy metals and sodium azide, which inhibit HRP activity
Store in non-metal containers (plastic tubes recommended)
Quality control:
Periodically validate antibody performance using positive control samples
Document lot numbers and maintain records of performance
Consider including a standard curve with each experiment to ensure consistent sensitivity
Alternative storage methods:
For frequent use, consider storing small aliquots at 4°C with 0.02% sodium azide for up to 1 month
Note that sodium azide inhibits HRP and must be removed before use