**Background of VCP Antibodies**
Valosin-containing protein (VCP), also known as p97 or CDC48. is a highly conserved ATPase critical for maintaining cellular proteostasis. It facilitates ubiquitin-dependent processes, including endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD), autophagy, and DNA repair, by segregating ubiquitinated substrates from complexes or membranes. Dysregulation of VCP is linked to multisystem proteinopathies, such as inclusion body myopathy with Paget’s disease of bone and frontotemporal dementia (IBMPFD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and other neurodegenerative disorders.
VCP antibodies are essential tools in research and diagnostics. In research, they help detect VCP expression, localization, and interactions via techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunoprecipitation. These studies elucidate VCP’s role in disease mechanisms, particularly its involvement in protein aggregation and organelle stress. Clinically, VCP autoantibodies are explored as potential biomarkers for autoimmune conditions, while genetic testing for VCP mutations aids in diagnosing hereditary IBMPFD. Additionally, therapeutic strategies targeting VCP pathways, such as inhibitors for cancer or modulators for neurodegeneration, are under investigation.
Overall, VCP antibodies bridge mechanistic insights into cellular homeostasis and disease, offering avenues for diagnostics and targeted therapies. Their utility underscores VCP’s centrality in proteostasis and human pathology.