S100 Antibodies: How Do They Play a Key Role in Tumor Pathology Diagnosis?

I. What Are the Molecular Characteristics and Biological Functions of S100 Protein?

S100 proteins are an important class of calcium-binding proteins first discovered in the central nervous system. Their molecular structure consists of α and β subunits, which can form three different dimer forms: S-100ao (αα), S-100a (αβ), and S-100b (ββ). Structurally similar to calmodulin, these proteins participate in the regulation of various cellular functions by modulating intracellular calcium ion concentration.

Regarding tissue distribution, S100 proteins are widely expressed in mesenchymal and lymphohematopoietic tissues, including glial cells, Schwann cells, melanocytes, chondrocytes, and dendritic cells. This specific expression pattern makes them important molecular markers for identifying these cell types and their derived tumors. Under normal physiological conditions, S100 proteins are involved in regulating key biological processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, energy metabolism, and cytoskeletal dynamics.

II. What is the Value of S100 Antibodies in Diagnosing Neuroglial Tumors?

Glioma, the most common intracranial malignant tumor, accounts for approximately 40%-50% of all intracranial tumors. According to the WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System, gliomas are graded I-IV, with Grades I-II classified as low-grade and Grades III-IV as high-grade gliomas. Research shows that S100 protein expression levels vary significantly among different glioma grades.

Immunohistochemical analysis reveals that S100 protein expression in glioma tissue positively correlates with tumor grade. Low-grade gliomas show relatively fewer S100-positive cells and weaker staining intensity, whereas high-grade gliomas exhibit more S100-positive cells and stronger staining signals. These expression characteristics not only aid in the diagnosis and grading of gliomas but also provide important reference for assessing tumor malignancy.

III. How Are S100 Antibodies Applied in Melanoma Diagnosis?

Uveal melanoma, a rare ocular malignant tumor, is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. Studies demonstrate the significant value of S100 protein in melanoma diagnosis. In one study involving 56 patients, S100 antibody detection showed strong positive expression in 26 samples, weak positive expression in 19, and negative in the rest. This differential expression pattern provides a powerful tool for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of melanoma.

Particularly noteworthy is the unique advantage of S100 antibodies in diagnosing metastatic melanoma. Evaluation using a semi-quantitative scoring system revealed significant differences in S100 expression intensity among different metastatic foci, possibly reflecting tumor heterogeneity and varying biological behaviors. Therefore, S100 antibodies are valuable not only for diagnosing primary melanoma but also for identifying and determining the origin of metastases.

IV. How Are S100 Antibodies Used in Dendritic Cell Research?

As the most potent antigen-presenting cells in the body, dendritic cells play a key role in anti-tumor immune responses. The specific expression of S100 protein in dendritic cells makes it an ideal marker for studying the distribution and function of these cells. In laryngeal cancer research, using S100 antibody immunohistochemical staining, researchers observed the specific distribution of S100-positive dendritic cells in 40 primary and metastatic tumor samples.

The study found that these S100-positive dendritic cells were mainly distributed in the tumor stroma, showing a characteristic distribution among suprabasal keratinocytes. This distribution pattern suggests that dendritic cells might uptake and present tumor antigens through direct contact with tumor cells, thereby activating specific immune responses. Thus, S100 antibodies provide an important technical means for studying the distribution and functional status of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment.

V. What is the Role of S100 Antibodies in Diagnosing Neurogenic Tumors?

S100 antibodies play an irreplaceable role in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of neurogenic tumors. Common neurogenic tumors like schwannomas and neurofibromas typically exhibit strong S100 protein expression. This expression characteristic helps distinguish these tumors from other mesenchymal tumors.

Especially in complex cases, the application of S100 antibodies can provide decisive evidence for determining the tissue origin of a tumor. For example, in the pathological diagnosis of metastatic tumors, a positive S100 result can suggest a neurogenic or melanocytic origin, which is highly significant for formulating subsequent treatment plans. Furthermore, S100 antibodies can also be used to assess the proliferative activity and malignant transformation tendency of neurogenic tumors.

VI. What is the Clinical Application Prospect of S100 Antibodies?

With the advancement of precision medicine, the clinical application prospects of S100 antibodies are increasingly broad. In the field of neuropathology, the combined use of S100 antibodies with other neural markers helps improve diagnostic accuracy. In tumor immunology research, S100 antibodies provide an important tool for exploring the interactions among immune cells within the tumor microenvironment.

In the future, with the development of single-cell technology and multiplex fluorescence staining, S100 antibodies are expected to reveal the characteristics and functions of different cell populations at a finer level. Furthermore, S100 antibodies may also play significant roles in emerging fields like liquid biopsy and circulating tumor cell detection, providing new technical support for early tumor diagnosis and treatment efficacy monitoring.

VII. Which Companies Supply S100 Antibodies?

Hangzhou Start Biotech Co., Ltd. has independently developed the "S-RMab® S100P Recombinant Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody" (Product Name: S-RMab S100P Recombinant Rabbit mAb (SDT-070-44)®, Product Code: S0B2031). This is a high-performance antibody product characterized by high specificity, high sensitivity, and excellent staining consistency. Developed using the proprietary S-RMab® recombinant rabbit monoclonal antibody technology platform and rigorously validated across multiple technical platforms including Immunohistochemistry, it holds significant application value in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of various tumors, prognosis assessment, and research on metastasis mechanisms.

Core Product Advantages:

• High Specificity and Clear Staining Localization: This product accurately recognizes the S100P protein, demonstrating exceptional cytoplasmic staining specificity in Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded samples, with clear background and accurate localization, providing a reliable basis for pathological interpretation.
• Excellent Staining Stability and Batch Consistency: Under stringent quality control standards, the product exhibits outstanding staining stability and minimal batch-to-batch variation, ensuring comparability and reproducibility of results across different experiments, providing stable support for clinical diagnosis and large-scale research projects.

Suitable for Various Key Application Scenarios: This product is an ideal tool for the following research areas:

• Pancreatic Cancer and Biliary Tract Tumor Diagnosis: Serves as an important auxiliary diagnostic marker for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma.
• Tumor Prognosis and Metastasis Research: Used to assess the correlation between S100P expression levels and tumor invasion, metastasis, and patient prognosis, providing references for clinical prognosis judgment.
• Precancerous Lesion Research: Used to study S100P expression in precancerous lesions like pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia, exploring its role in tumorigenesis and development.
• Differential Diagnosis of Rare Tumors: Used for auxiliary diagnosis and differential diagnosis research in various tumors such as ovarian cancer, gastric cancer, and lung cancer.

Professional Technical Support: We provide detailed product technical documentation, including complete IHC experimental procedures, optimized antigen retrieval protocols, and clear interpretation standards, fully committed to assisting customers in obtaining accurate and reliable results in tumor pathology research and diagnosis.

Hangzhou Start Biotech Co., Ltd. is consistently dedicated 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® S100P Recombinant Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody" (Product Code S0B2031) or to request a sample test, please feel free to contact us.

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