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Updated: Aug 12, 2026
Visualization of G3BP Stress Granules Dynamics in Live Primary Cells
Published on: May 21, 2014
Immunohistochemical study of the expression of human groEL-stress protein in human nervous tissue
N Khanna1, S K Shankar, A Chandramuki
1Department of Neuromicrobiology, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore.
Abstract:
Monoclonal antibody (ML-30) directed against 65 kDa stress protein of mycobacteria, is shown to identify human cellular protein homologous with the groEL heat shock protein in many prokaryotes. Immunohistochemical survey of nervous tissue, both central and peripheral, from patients dying of various inflammatory, degenerative and neoplastic conditions and from experimental animals, using this antibody showed punctate granular staining of the cells to a variable degree. The astrocytes showed strong immunolabelling. The normal neurons and oligodendroglia stained variably, while abnormal neurons were darkly labelled. Ependymal cells showed apical granular positivity. The ubiquitinated inclusion bodies in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease were not recognised by the ML-30 antibody. In diseased and stressed nervous tissue from experimental animals, the expression of the ML-30 recognisable stress protein was variable. The epitope recognised by ML-30 was found stable in postmortem tissues collected up to 36 h after death and processed for paraffin sectioning, after fixation in formalin for many years. Enhanced expression of the human groEL stress protein homologue in mammalian nervous tissue following various forms of stress may play a role in modulating the extent of tissue damage by autoimmune mechanism because of its high immunogenic nature and constitutive presence in the cells.
Insights
Monoclonal antibody ML-30 identifies a human stress protein homologous to bacterial groEL heat shock proteins. This protein
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Monoclonal antibody ML-30 targets a 65 kDa mycobacterial stress protein.
- This antibody recognizes a human cellular protein homologous to prokaryotic groEL heat shock proteins.
- Heat shock proteins play crucial roles in cellular stress responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression and localization of the human groEL stress protein homologue in nervous tissue.
- To determine if this stress protein is altered in various neurological conditions and under experimental stress.
- To assess the stability of the ML-30 epitope in postmortem tissues.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of human and experimental animal nervous tissue using the ML-30 antibody.
- Examination of tissues from patients with inflammatory, degenerative, and neoplastic conditions.
- Assessment of stressed nervous tissue from experimental animals.
Main Results:
- Punctate granular staining was observed in various nervous system cells, with strong immunolabelling in astrocytes.
- Normal neurons and oligodendroglia showed variable staining, while abnormal neurons were darkly labelled.
- The ML-30 antibody did not recognize inclusion bodies in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's, or Parkinson's disease.
Conclusions:
- The human groEL stress protein homologue is expressed in mammalian nervous tissue, with variable levels under stress.
- The ML-30 epitope is stable in postmortem tissues up to 36 hours after death.
- Enhanced expression of this stress protein may contribute to autoimmune mechanisms modulating tissue damage in stressed nervous systems.
