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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Identifying Cell Surface Markers of Primary Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells by Metabolic Labeling of Sialoglycan

Identifying Cell Surface Markers of Primary Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells by Metabolic Labeling of Sialoglycan

Published on: September 7, 2019

LewisX: a neural stem cell specific glycan?

Eva Hennen¹, Andreas Faissner

¹Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany.

The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology

|March 22, 2012

Summary

LewisX (LeX) antibodies are key for isolating neural stem cells. Recent findings reveal new LeX-glycan functions and highlight how different antibody clones offer versatile applications beyond cell sorting.

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Last Updated: May 23, 2026

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Published on: September 7, 2019

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The Specification of Telencephalic Glutamatergic Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

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Published on: April 14, 2013

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Glycobiology
Stem Cell Biology

Background:

LewisX (LeX) antibodies are standard tools for neural stem and progenitor cell (NSPC) isolation.
Applications include NSPC enrichment from human stem cells and direct isolation from mouse neural tissue.
The precise role of LeX in the central nervous system remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current knowledge on LeX-glycans in neural stem cells and their progeny.
To discuss newly identified LeX-carrier proteins and ligands.
To evaluate the suitability of different LeX antibody clones as neural stem cell biomarkers.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies on LeX expression in neural stem cells.
Analysis of recent findings on LeX-associated proteins and ligands.
Comparative assessment of LeX antibody clone specificities.

Main Results:

LeX-containing glycans are expressed by neural stem cells and their progeny.
New LeX-carrier proteins and ligands provide insights into potential LeX-glycan functions.
Individual LeX antibody clones exhibit varying specificities for LeX-containing glycan epitopes.

Conclusions:

LeX antibodies are valuable for NSPC isolation and enrichment.
Emerging data suggest diverse functions for LeX-glycans in the CNS.
The distinct epitope recognition of different LeX antibody clones enables broader applications beyond cell sorting.