Anti-NSE (Neuron specific enolase) Antibody

Neuron specific enolase (NSE) is an enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of 2-phosphoglycerate to phosphoenolpyruvate in the glycolytic pathway, and also the reverse reaction in gluconeogenesis. It is one of three mammalian enolases, which are also known as ENO1, ENO2, and ENO3 or alternately as enolase alpha, beta and gamma. The three enolases have different cell type specific expression patterns, so that antibodies to them are useful cell type specific markers.(MacAlesse et al., 1988). NSE corresponds to ENO2 or enolase gamma and is heavily expressed in neuronal cells. ENO1 is also known as enolase alpha and as non-neuronal enolase. The third enolase, ENO3 or enolase beta, is expressed in muscle cells. Since neurons require a great deal of energy, they are very rich in glycolytic enzymes such a GAPDH and NSE. Antibodies to this protein are therefore useful to identify neuronal cell bodies, developing neuronal lineage and neuroendocrine cells. Release of NSE from damaged neurons into CSF and blood has also been used as a biomarker of neuronal injury (2).