Anti-Mouse γ/δ (TCR) [Clone UC7-13D5] — Purified in vivo GOLD™ Functional Grade

The UC7-13D5 clone is primarily used in in vivo mouse studies for depletion of gamma delta T cells (?/? T cells), though its exact mechanism of action has been subject of some debate in the research community.

Primary Applications

Depletion Studies: The most common application of UC7-13D5 is for depleting TCR ?/? T cells in vivo. Researchers inject this antibody into mice to remove gamma delta T cells from circulation, allowing them to study the role of these cells in various immune processes. This depletion approach is particularly valuable for understanding how ?/? T cells contribute to immune responses during bacterial infections, tumor surveillance, and other immunological processes.

Functional Activation: Beyond depletion, UC7-13D5 has been shown to activate ?/? T cells both in vitro and in vivo, making it useful for studying T cell activation mechanisms.

Important Considerations and Limitations

Mechanism Debate: While UC7-13D5 has been widely used for depletion studies, there is scientific debate about its actual mechanism of action. Some research suggests that rather than truly depleting the cells, the antibody may cause downregulation of the ?/? TCR, making the cells undetectable in standard assays while they remain physically present in the mouse. Another study indicates the antibody might function through functional blocking of TCR signaling rather than actual cell depletion.

Dosage Optimization: Each investigator must determine their own optimal working dilution for specific applications, as the effective dose can vary depending on the experimental design and desired outcome.

Target Specificity

UC7-13D5 specifically targets the mouse ?/? TCR (gamma delta T cell receptor) complex expressed by a subset of T cells found in various tissues including the thymus, peripheral lymphoid tissues, intestinal epithelium, epidermis, and peritoneum. The antibody does not react with ?? TCR-expressing T cells, ensuring specificity for the gamma delta population.

The correct storage temperature for sterile packaged clone UC7-13D5 is 2–8°C (typically 4°C), protected from light, and do not freeze.

Most reputable suppliers—including Invitrogen, BioLegend, Southern Biotech, and Fisher Scientific—specify the following essential conditions:

• Store at 2–8°C (usually recommended as 4°C)
• Keep in the dark: protect from light to preserve antibody activity.
• Do not freeze: freezing can damage the antibody and affect its functionality.
• Short-term storage (up to 1 month) at 4°C is acceptable; for longer-term storage, some manufacturers advise -20°C, but only if explicitly stated and compatible with your formulation, as many forms should not be frozen.

If the product contains no preservatives (as with some preparations), handle it aseptically and follow the duration recommendations (typically valid for 12 months at 4°C).

Conflicting guidance exists about long-term storage at -20°C, but the majority of use-case-ready liquid monoclonal antibodies in sterile packaging—such as the common UC7-13D5 clone—should be kept at 2–8°C and never frozen unless specifically instructed otherwise on your product datasheet. Always consult your supplier’s instructions for your particular preparation.

Commonly used antibodies or proteins applied alongside UC7-13D5 (anti-mouse TCR ?/? antibody) in the literature include those targeting CD3, CD4, CD8, and other T cell markers, particularly for the characterization and functional analysis of T cell subsets in immunological studies.

Supporting details:

• UC7-13D5 is frequently used in flow cytometry alongside anti-CD3, anti-CD4, and anti-CD8 antibodies to distinguish ?/? T cells from other lymphocyte populations. This is because markers such as CD4 and CD8 are coreceptors that interact with the TCR and are needed for proper activation and functional analysis of T cell subsets.
• Publications using UC7-13D5 for depletion or functional analysis of ?/? T cells also include co-staining (or functional assays) with pan-T cell markers like CD3 and lineage markers to ensure proper identification and tracking of specific subpopulations.
• In experiments designed to evaluate ?/? TCR function and depletion, researchers sometimes use other anti-TCR (e.g., pan-TCR, or ?/? TCR-specific antibodies like H57-597) antibodies in parallel for gating strategies, sorting, or depletion controls.

Additional commonly used reagents/proteins in these studies may include:

• CD45 (pan-leukocyte marker) for identifying lymphocytes in complex samples
• B220, CD19 (B cell markers) to exclude non-T cell populations
• CD11b (myeloid marker) and NK1.1 (NK cell marker), especially in immune profiling panels

This multi-antibody approach is standard in flow cytometry and immunological depletion studies to provide robust identification and functional data on mouse ?/? T cell populations.

Clone UC7-13D5 is a monoclonal antibody targeted against the T cell receptor gamma delta (TCR ?/?) on ?/? T cells. The key findings from citations in scientific literature regarding UC7-13D5 include:

1. Activation vs. Depletion:

   • In Vitro Activation: UC7-13D5 can activate TCR ?/?-bearing T cells in vitro, potentially leading to enhanced immune responses.
   • In Vivo Effects: Initially thought to deplete TCR ?/? T cells in vivo, recent studies suggest that UC7-13D5 may actually downregulate the TCR, making the cells undetectable without eliminating them.

2. TCR Downregulation and Internalization:

   • Treatment with UC7-13D5 leads to the internalization of the TCR ?/?, resulting in "invisible" ?/? T cells that are still present but not detectable by conventional methods.

3. Biological Effects:

   • Despite not depleting cells, UC7-13D5 can have significant biological effects, potentially influencing T cell functions and immune responses in various experimental models.

4. Cross-Reactivity:

   • UC7-13D5 and another antibody, GL3, have been found to partially cross-compete for the same epitope on the TCR ?/?, which may affect their utility in certain studies.

Overall, UC7-13D5 is a valuable tool for studying ?/? T cell biology, but its application should be interpreted with caution due to its complex effects on TCR expression and cell detectability.