Caspases cleave keratin 18 at two sites during apoptosis. Cleavage at Asp396 generates a neo-epitope recognized by the monoclonal antibody M30®. This antibody does not recognize uncleaved K18 and is therefore specific for apoptotic epithelial cells. M30 Apoptosense® ELISA utilizes a second monoclonal antibody (M5) which recognizes an epitope N-terminal from the M30® epitope.
M30 Apoptosense® ELISA can be combined with the M65® ELISA (uncleaved K18) (PEVIVA®, VLVbio) to determine cell death mode (apoptosis versus necrosis).