Zeta PAX-2 Antibody. Zeta’s rabbit recombinant antibody recognizes PAX-2, a member of the paired box family of transcription factors, which is required for the development and proliferation of the kidney, brain, and Mullerian organs. PAX-2 has been used as a marker for the identification of renal cell carcinoma and ovarian carcinoma by immunohistochemistry.
Zeta’s PAX-2 antibody recognizes a 42kDa protein, a gene product that contains a highly conserved DNA sequence within the paired box region, which encodes a DNA-binding domain that enables PAX protein family members to bind to the promoters of specific genes to transcriptionally regulate their expression. PAX-2 expression is suppressed through promoter methylation in late embryonic development but is reactivated during carcinogenesis (J Cell Mol Med 2013;17:1048).
PAX-2 has nuclear localization and is specifically expressed in the developing central nervous system, eye, ear, and urogenital tract, and is essential for the development of these organs. In normal adult tissues PAX-2 is expressed in the urogenital system, including kidney, ureteric epithelium, fallopian tube epithelium, ovary and uterus. In tumors, PAX-2 has been detected in renal cell carcinomas, Wilms’ tumors, nephrogenic adenomas and papillary serous carcinoma of the ovary. Specifically, PAX-2 has been used as a marker for the identification of renal cell carcinoma and ovarian carcinoma by immunohistochemistry.
Pathologists can use PAX-2 expresion to distinguish benign cervical mesonephric and Müllerian glandular lesions (PAX-2+) from endocervical adenocarcinoma, including minimal deviation adenocarcinoma (PAX-2-); to determine whether GU tumors are renal, Müllerian or Wolffian duct origin; and to differentiate CNS tumors such as hemangioblastoma (PAX-2-, PAX-8-, inhibinA+) from metastatic renal cell carcinoma (PAX-2+ or PAX-8+, inhibin-).