Ferritin antibodies are immunological tools designed to target ferritin, a ubiquitous iron-storage protein critical for maintaining cellular iron homeostasis. Composed of heavy (H) and light (L) chain subunits, ferritin sequesters excess iron in a non-toxic, bioavailable form, protecting cells from oxidative damage while regulating iron release for metabolic processes. Antibodies against ferritin are widely used in research and diagnostics to quantify ferritin levels, which serve as biomarkers for iron deficiency, iron overload disorders (e.g., hemochromatosis), and inflammatory conditions, as ferritin synthesis increases during acute-phase responses.
These antibodies are typically raised in immunized animals (e.g., rabbits, mice) using purified ferritin or recombinant subunits as antigens. Both polyclonal and monoclonal formats exist, with monoclonal antibodies offering higher specificity for distinguishing H- and L-chain isoforms. Applications include Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA to assess tissue iron distribution, diagnose diseases, or study ferritin’s role in pathologies like neurodegeneration or cancer. Some autoantibodies against ferritin have also been reported in autoimmune contexts, though their clinical significance remains under investigation. Overall, ferritin antibodies are indispensable for exploring iron metabolism and related disorders.