ANGPTL4 (Angiopoietin-like 4) is a secreted glycoprotein belonging to the angiopoietin-like family, primarily involved in regulating lipid metabolism, angiogenesis, and inflammation. It modulates lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity, influencing triglyceride breakdown and energy distribution. Dysregulation of ANGPTL4 is linked to metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer progression, making it a target for therapeutic and diagnostic research.
ANGPTL4 antibodies are immunological tools designed to detect, quantify, or inhibit the protein’s function. They are widely used in studies exploring metabolic pathways, tumor microenvironment interactions, or vascular biology. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against ANGPTL4 enable applications like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and flow cytometry. Some therapeutic antibodies aim to neutralize ANGPTL4 to treat hypertriglyceridemia or disrupt its role in cancer metastasis.
Research highlights its context-dependent roles: while ANGPTL4 promotes lipid storage in adipose tissue, it inhibits LPL in muscles, reflecting tissue-specific regulation. Antibodies must account for post-translational modifications (e.g., cleavage into N-terminal oligomers and C-terminal fibrinogen domains) that affect functionality. Challenges include ensuring specificity due to structural similarities within the angiopoietin family. Ongoing studies focus on optimizing antibody efficacy for clinical translation, particularly in metabolic syndrome and oncology.
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