Direct Isolation of Primary Astrocytes With Anti-GLAST MicroBeads

BERGISCH GLADBACH, Germany, September 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Miltenyi Biotec announces the worldwide first and exclusive release of the Anti-GLAST (ACSA-1) MicroBead Kit. Isolation of viable GLAST-expressing astrocytes is now possible within one hour using the first commercially available antibody against an extracellular surface epitope of GLAST. Magnetic cell separation with MACS(R) Technology is the method of choice for the specific isolation of viable cells. A prerequisite for specific cell isolation is the availability of antibodies directed against a specific cell surface antigen. Suitable antibodies against extracellular markers on the astrocyte cell surface were not available until recently, and astrocytes had to be isolated by time-consuming methods, such as generation of astrocyte cultures, which even differ considerably from astrocytes in vivo, or by transgenic approaches.

The new anti-GLAST (ACSA-1) antibody (astrocyte cell surface antigen 1; ACSA-1) recognizes an extracellular epitope of the astrocyte-specific glutamate transporter GLAST (EAAT1), and it shows specific and sensitive labeling of GLAST-positive cells in flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and immunocytochemistry.

"The Anti-GLAST (ACSA-1) MicroBead Kit provides the first tool for the straightforward isolation of astrocytes from dissociated brain tissue, and enables the separation of astrocytes based on their expression of GLAST," says Dr. Melanie Jungblut, the responsible R&D Project Manager. "The kit allows for the direct isolation of viable primary astrocytes within one hour, and achieves high purity by minimizing contamination by other cells."

The Anti-GLAST (ACSA-1) MicroBead Kit is exclusively available from Miltenyi Biotec.

About Miltenyi Biotec

Miltenyi Biotec's company mission is to improve scientific understanding and medical progress by providing products and services for cellular therapies. More than 1,100 employees worldwide develop, produce and sell products for biomedical research and clinical applications. The renowned MACS Technology for magnetic separation of cells has become a standard technology in research laboratories worldwide.

    Press contact:
    Prof. Dr. Uwe A. O. Heinlein
    Corporate Communications, Miltenyi Biotec GmbH
    Friedrich-Ebert-Strasse 68, 51429 Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
    Phone: +49-2204-8306-6590
    E-mail: [email protected]


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SOURCE Miltenyi Biotec GmbH