Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Metabolic Mapping: Quantitative Enzyme Cytochemistry and Histochemistry to Determine the Activity of Dehydrogenases in Cells and Tissues
Published on: May 26, 2018
Tissue-specific and ontogenetic regulation of LIF protein levels determined by quantitative enzyme immunoassay
K Fukada1, S Korsching, M F Towle
1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, State University of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn 11203, USA. kfukada@netmail.hscbklyn.edu
Insights
This study maps leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) protein distribution in rats, revealing key synthesis sites like the uterus, ovary, footpads, and thymus. LIF levels vary across tissues and development, not always matching mRNA data.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is crucial for various physiological processes.
- Understanding LIF's in vivo synthesis sites is essential to define its role.
- Previous studies lacked comprehensive localization data for LIF protein.
Purpose of the Study:
- To precisely localize the sites of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) protein synthesis in vivo.
- To quantify LIF protein levels in various rat organs and tissues during postnatal development.
Main Methods:
- Generation of specific polyclonal antibodies for native rat LIF.
- Development of a sensitive two-site immunoassay capable of detecting 10 pg/ml LIF.
- Quantification of LIF protein content in 18 organs, CNS regions, and ganglia across postnatal development.
Main Results:
- High LIF protein levels (1.0-11.0 ng/g) were found in the uterus, ovary, footpads, and thymus.
- Intermediate (0.5-1.0 ng) and low (0.1-0.5 ng) LIF levels were detected in numerous other tissues, including the gut, skin, muscle, and nervous system.
- LIF protein distribution and levels did not entirely correlate with previously reported LIF mRNA levels.
Conclusions:
- This study provides a detailed map of LIF protein localization and abundance in developing rats.
- The identified high-expression tissues (uterus, ovary, footpads, thymus) are likely key sites for LIF's physiological functions.
- Discrepancies between LIF protein and mRNA levels suggest post-transcriptional regulation is important for LIF function.
Abstract:
To define the physiological role of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), it is essential to localize sites of LIF synthesis in vivo. We generated polyclonal antibodies specific for native rat LIF, and developed a two-site immunoassay to detect 10 pg LIF/ml. Using this immunoassay, we determined LIF content of 18 organs, CNS regions, and ganglia throughout postnatal development of rats. High levels of LIF protein (1.0-11.0 ng/g tissue) are present in relatively few tissues: the uterus at late proestrus to estrus and on day 5 of pregnancy, ovary at estrus to early metestrus-1, footpads during early postnatal development and thymus throughout. Intermediate levels (0.5-1.0 ng) are detected in the gut, skin, skeletal muscle, pancreas and lung at one or more postnatal ages. Low levels (0.1-0.5 ng) are observed in most other non-nervous and nervous tissues. LIF protein levels do not completely correspond to reported LIF mRNA levels.
More Related Videos
08:10High Throughput, Absolute Determination of the Content of a Selected Protein at Tissue Levels Using Quantitative Dot Blot Analysis (QDB)
Published on: August 21, 2018
08:13Robust Comparison of Protein Levels Across Tissues and Throughout Development Using Standardized Quantitative Western Blotting
Published on: April 9, 2019
