Beckman Coulter Life Sciences anti-TRBC2 conjugated antibody for flow cytometry

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences has developed an anti-TRBC2 conjugated antibody for flow cytometry, providing greater clarity to clinical researchers in the identification of T-cell neoplasms in areas including cancer research. Currently available for research use only (RUO), the company is pursuing development of a diagnostic version of the antibody for commercial availability.

Traditional approaches to identify clonal T-cell expansion have been complex and challenging, relying on the assessment of abnormal antigen expression, which is often difficult to clearly identify and can overlap with reactive T-cell subsets. B-cells can offer a richer and more simplistic solution, with the detection of clonal B-cell expansion enabled by the staining of both surface kappa and lambda immunoglobulin light chains utilising flow cytometry.

The TCR constant β chains 1 and 2, or TRBC1 and TRBC2, are randomly selected during T-cell development in the thymus and are mutually exclusive. Normal T-cell populations include a mix of the two, while clonal populations include only one. TRBC1 and TRBC2 staining using flow cytometry offers a low-cost, rapid and specific T-cell clonality test. Both can be conjugated to any dye in the Beckman Coulter Life Sciences portfolio through Custom Design Services either as a standalone conjugated antibody or part of liquid or dry custom panels.