CD14 antibody: How to analyze its dual regulatory mechanisms in inflammasome activation and lipid delivery?

1. How is the biological function of CD14 positioned in innate immune recognition?

As a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein, CD14 plays multiple roles in the innate immune system. Traditionally, CD14 was considered primarily involved in the recognition and delivery of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), working in concert with LPS-binding protein to transport lipid ligands to the Toll-like receptor 4/MD-2 complex. However, recent studies indicate that CD14's functions extend far beyond this scope—it can also recognize endogenous damage-associated molecular patterns, particularly oxidized phospholipids. This dual recognition capability positions CD14 as a critical molecular bridge connecting microbial infection with tissue damage responses, playing a central role in immune surveillance and inflammation regulation.

2. How does CD14 mediate the cellular internalization process of oxidized phospholipids?

Research shows that CD14 initiates ligand internalization by specifically binding certain components within oxidized phospholipid mixtures. This process is independent of Toll-like receptor 4 signaling and instead relies on an independent endocytic mechanism. Upon binding oxidized phospholipids, CD14 undergoes conformational changes and activates downstream phospholipase Cγ and Syk kinase signaling pathways, promoting internalization of the CD14-ligand complex into endosomal compartments. Notably, this process leads to transient depletion of CD14 from the plasma membrane, thereby affecting the cell's response to subsequent LPS stimulation and forming a unique immunoregulatory mechanism.

3. What are the characteristics of CD14-mediated dendritic cell hyperactivation?

Under oxidized phospholipid stimulation, CD14 can induce dendritic cells to enter a special activated state—hyperactivation. This state is characterized by sustained production and release of inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1 while maintaining cell viability. Unlike conventional activation, hyperactivated dendritic cells do not undergo significant cell death but instead acquire enhanced immunostimulatory capacity, providing more effective support for adaptive immune responses. This unique cell fate determination depends on CD14 delivering oxidized phospholipids to specific intracellular compartments, thereby activating the caspase-11-dependent inflammasome pathway.

4. What is the molecular basis of CD14's ligand recognition mechanism?

Structural biology studies reveal that CD14 utilizes four hydrophobic regions at its N-terminus to form a large ligand-binding pocket, enabling accommodation of diverse lipid ligands. Site-directed mutagenesis confirms that oxidized phospholipids and LPS share the same binding site on CD14. When these critical amino acid residues are mutated, CD14 loses both its ability to bind oxidized phospholipids and its capacity to mediate ligand internalization. This conserved binding property explains the competitive phenomena between oxidized phospholipids and LPS at the CD14 binding level and provides structural insights into CD14's multi-ligand recognition capability.

5. How does CD14 function differ across immune cell types?

Although CD14 is expressed in various phagocytes, its functional manifestations show distinct cell-type specificity. In dendritic cells, CD14-mediated oxidized phospholipid internalization primarily leads to inflammasome activation and cytokine release, whereas in macrophages, the same stimulus may trigger different response patterns. This functional divergence may stem from cell-type-specific signaling networks or differences in endosomal compartments. Additionally, variations in CD14 expression levels and regulatory mechanisms across cell types may influence its functional output, offering new perspectives for understanding the cellular specificity of immune responses.

6. What potential value do CD14-targeted therapeutic strategies offer?

Given CD14's central role in inflammatory responses, interventions targeting this molecule hold significant therapeutic potential. Modulating CD14 function through specific antibodies may enable precise regulation of inflammatory reactions. In acute inflammation models like sepsis, appropriate CD14 activity modulation could maintain essential immune defense functions while preventing tissue damage from excessive inflammation. Furthermore, interventions targeting CD14-mediated endogenous danger signal recognition may provide novel approaches for treating chronic inflammatory diseases. However, developing such strategies requires careful consideration of CD14's vital functions in physiological immune surveillance to ensure therapeutic precision and safety.

7. Conclusion

As a key receptor in the innate immune system, CD14 plays a central role in microbial infection and tissue damage responses through its unique lipid recognition and delivery functions. Its oxidized phospholipid internalization capability not only reveals new mechanisms of endogenous danger signal recognition but also provides important insights into the complexity of inflammatory regulation. With deeper understanding of CD14's biological functions, precise modulation strategies targeting this molecule may open new avenues for treating inflammatory diseases.

8. Which manufacturers provide CD14 antibodies?

Hangzhou Start Biotech Co., Ltd. has independently developed the "S-RMab® CD14 Recombinant Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody" (Product Name: S-RMab® CD14 Recombinant Rabbit mAb (SDT-060-50), Catalog Number: S0B2050), a myeloid cell marker detection antibody with high specificity, excellent sensitivity, and outstanding staining consistency. Developed using the proprietary S-RMab® recombinant rabbit monoclonal antibody technology platform, this product has undergone rigorous validation across multiple technical platforms including immunohistochemistry (IHC), demonstrating critical application value in monocyte/macrophage identification, inflammation assessment, and innate immunity research.

Professional Technical Support: We provide comprehensive product technical documentation, including complete IHC protocols, optimized antigen retrieval solutions, and professional interpretation guidance, fully assisting customers in obtaining precise and reliable results for immunopathology and inflammation research.

Hangzhou Start Biotech Co., Ltd. remains committed to providing high-quality, high-value biological reagents and solutions for global innovative pharmaceutical companies and research institutions. For more details about the "S-RMab® CD14 Recombinant Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody" (Catalog Number S0B2050) or to request sample testing, please contact us.

Product Information