Heart Disease

By Jamshed Arslan, Pharm. D., PhD.

Prolyl hydroxylase domain (PHD) proteins, including PHD1, PHD2, and PHD3, mediate oxygen-dependent degradation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) alpha subunits. Suppression of PHD enzymes leads to stabilization of HIFs and offers a potential treatment option for many ischemic disorders, such as peripheral artery occlusive disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke (1).

Ghrelin is the only potent orexigenic peptide in circulation. It stimulates food intake and leads to metabolism regulation, positive energy balance, adipogenesis, and body weight gain. However, in studies using ghrelin antibodies, the physiological significance of ghrelin in the regulation of energy homeostasis is controversial, since loss of ghrelin function in rodents does not necessarily lead to anorexia and weight loss (1).

We at Novus Biologicals have an extensive antibody catalog covering lipid and metabolism research, including Adiponectin and leptin antibody products.

Obesity, diabetes and metabolic disorders are dramatically on the increase, linked to disorders such as heart disease, stroke and cancer. To combat this, research groups are studying metabolism at both a cellular and a systemic level.

The high prevalence of atherosclerosis in developed nations is not breaking news; it has been well established that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and it presents a major socioeconomic burden.

The enzymes of the Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP) family assist in the degradation of the extracellular matrix, under both normal and pathological conditions. MMP antibodies have identified roles in a number of physiological processes, such as embryonic development and tissue remodelling. They also regulate enzyme cascades, expression of various proteins and the migration of both normal and malignant cells.

MMP2 antibodies have proven to be important tools for cancer research and extracellular matrix studies. Novus Biologicals offers an excellent MMP2 antibody (Catalog Number NB200-114) for Western blot, immunoprecipitation, ELISA, and immunohistochemical/immunofluorescence staining in human, mouse and rat samples. Originally developed in 2005, this MMP-2 clone (8B4) has been thoroughly characterized and cited in a growing number of published journal articles.

Caspase 3 is a member of the cysteine-aspartic acid protease family and an important mediator of apoptosis. Caspase 3 antibody reagents have been used in cancer, Alzheimer's disease and stem cell research. A recent caspase 3 antibody ELISA study showed elevated levels of the p17 caspase 3 fragment were associated with myocardial infarction in humans.