Monoclonal antibody 35.8 recognizes human, mouse and rat MnSODs in western blot and immunostaining

MnSOD is an antioxidant enzyme whose decrease in activity appears involved in tumorigenesis. We had previously reported the production of a monoclonal antibody, named 35.8, against rat MnSOD. In the present paper we show that it recognizes human and mouse MnSODs, although with different detection limits. We also use the antibody for immunofluorescence studies and observed that the antibody yields a positive staining of a non-nuclear protein, in rat and human organs where high concentration of MnSOD activity have been reported, and a lack of staining in rat kidney where MnSOD activity is decreased. Two tumors, an experimental rat hepatocarcinoma and a human liver metastasis from a gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma, are found negative for immunostaining.