Uses of Fc Block

The Uses of BD Fc Block in Immunophenotyping of Mouse or Rat Leukocytes

Fc gII and Fc gIII low-affinity receptors for complexed IgG (Fc receptors or FcR) are designated CD32 and CD16, respectively, and are expressed on many cell types, including B lymphocytes, NK cells, granulocytes, monocytes, macrophages, and platelets. Some antibody preparations may bind via their Fc portions to FcR-bearing cells, resulting in high "background" staining.

Mouse BD Fc Block is a purified rat IgG 2b anti-mouse CD16/CD32 monoclonal antibody (Cat. No. 553141 and 553142), 1 while Rat BD Fc Block (Cat. No. 550270 and 550271) is a purified mouse IgG 1anti-rat CD32 monoclonal antibody. 2 Mouse and Rat BD Fc Block can be used to block the Fc-mediated adherence of antibodies* to mouse and rat FcR, respectively. Furthermore, it has been reported that the Fc domain of the anti-mouse CD16/CD32 mAb 2.4G2 binds the Fc gI receptor (CD64) and blocks this additional FcR. 1 Since Mouse and Rat BD Fc Block are antigen-specific mAbs, anti-mouse CD16/CD32 and anti-rat CD32, they may also be used as primary staining reagents for detection of mouse and rat FcR-bearing cells, respectively.

Pre-incubation of mouse or rat cell suspensions with the respective BD Fc Block for several minutes, prior to staining with specific antibodies,* assures that any observed staining is due to the interaction of the antigen-binding portion of the antibody with an antigen on the cell surface. The following figures illustrate typical applications of Mouse and Rat BD Fc Block.

*Experiments using unconjugated rat anti-mouse primary antibodies or mouse anti-rat primary antibodies in the presence of BD Fc Block must be carefully designed. Second-step reagents must be chosen which will not cross-react with BD Fc Block, rat IgG 2b or mouse IgG 1. BD Biosciences Pharmingen offers a selection of isotype-specific anti-rat and anti-mouse immunoglobulin mAbs which may be used for this purpose.