CD83 Mouse mAb: Selection, Application & Protocol Guide

CD83 Mouse mAb is a monoclonal antibody raised in mouse against the human CD83 antigen, designed to support reliable detection of CD83-expressing cells—particularly mature dendritic cells—across a range of immunological research applications.

Product SKU

Ab350904

Antibody Format

Mouse Monoclonal Antibody (mAb)

Formulation

PBS only (no carrier protein, no preservative)

Target Antigen

CD83 (human)

Primary Application

Flow cytometry, immunoassay-based detection of mature dendritic cells and activated B/T cells

Clone Reference

absea #KC-626

Background: CD83 as an Immunological Marker

CD83 is a transmembrane glycoprotein and member of the immunoglobulin superfamily predominantly expressed on the surface of mature dendritic cells (DCs). Its surface expression is widely used as a hallmark of DC maturation, making it an indispensable marker in studies of antigen presentation, immune activation, and DC biology.

Beyond dendritic cells, CD83 expression has been documented on activated B lymphocytes, activated T lymphocytes, and certain monocyte populations. Soluble forms of CD83 (sCD83) shed from the cell surface have been associated with immunomodulatory functions, including suppression of T-cell responses and potential roles in tolerance induction.

Research applications of CD83 antibodies span basic immunology, vaccine development, autoimmunity research, and oncology, where altered DC maturation states are frequently investigated.

Product Specifications & Storage Guidelines

SKU: Ab350904 | Clone: absea #KC-626 | Host Species: Mouse | Antibody Class: Monoclonal

Formulation: The antibody is supplied in PBS only, without carrier proteins (e.g., BSA) or preservatives (e.g., sodium azide). This PBS-only formulation is advantageous for downstream conjugation, labeling experiments, and applications where exogenous proteins would interfere with assay performance.

Storage Recommendations (general best practices — verify with lot-specific datasheet):

• Store at 2–8 °C for short-term use (up to 4 weeks).
• For long-term storage, aliquot and freeze at −20 °C or −80 °C to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
• Do not freeze-thaw more than three times; prepare single-use aliquots where possible.
• Keep away from light if fluorophore-conjugated variants are used.

Important: Because the formulation contains no preservative, handle under aseptic conditions and consider sterile filtration after thawing if sterility is required for cell-based assays.

Recommended Protocol: Flow Cytometry (Surface Staining)

The following protocol provides a general starting framework for CD83 surface staining by flow cytometry. Optimize antibody concentration and incubation conditions using titration experiments on your specific cell type and instrument setup.

1. Cell preparation: Harvest cells of interest (e.g., monocyte-derived dendritic cells, PBMCs, or activated B cells). Wash twice in ice-cold PBS + 1% BSA (FACS buffer). Adjust to 1–5 × 10⁶ cells per 100 µL.
2. Fc receptor blocking: Incubate cells with an appropriate Fc blocking reagent for 10 minutes on ice to reduce non-specific binding.
3. Primary antibody staining: Add CD83 Mouse mAb (Ab350904) at the empirically determined optimal concentration (typically 0.5–5 µg/mL as a starting range; verify by titration). Incubate for 20–30 minutes on ice, protected from light.
4. Washing: Wash twice with FACS buffer (300–400 × g, 5 minutes, 4 °C).
5. Secondary antibody (if unconjugated primary): If using an unconjugated format, add an appropriate anti-mouse secondary antibody conjugated to your fluorophore of choice. Incubate 20 minutes on ice, wash twice.
6. Viability staining: Include a viability dye to exclude dead cells.
7. Fixation (optional): Fix in 1–4% paraformaldehyde in PBS if biosafety requirements or downstream analysis necessitates it.
8. Acquisition and analysis: Acquire on a calibrated flow cytometer. Include isotype control and/or fluorescence-minus-one (FMO) controls to set gates accurately.

Note: Because Ab350904 is formulated in PBS only (no azide), it is compatible with cell-based functional assays without the cytotoxicity concern associated with azide-containing formulations.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Use the table below as a first-line diagnostic guide when results are unexpected.

Observed Problem	Likely Cause	Recommended Action
No or very low signal	Insufficient antibody concentration; target antigen not expressed on tested cell type; cells not matured/activated	Titrate antibody upward; confirm CD83 expression with a positive control cell line or LPS-matured DC; verify maturation stimulus
High background / non-specific staining	Inadequate Fc blocking; antibody concentration too high; secondary antibody cross-reactivity	Optimize Fc block; reduce primary antibody concentration; use species-specific blocking serum; include FMO controls
Loss of signal over time	Protein degradation due to repeated freeze-thaw; no preservative in PBS-only formulation	Prepare single-use aliquots; store at −80 °C; confirm cold-chain integrity upon receipt
Inconsistent results between lots	Batch variability; different antibody concentrations	Titrate each new lot; run bridging experiments between lots; retain positive control samples

Quality Control & Ordering Information

Quality Assurance: Each lot of CD83 Mouse mAb (Ab350904) is subject to quality control testing prior to release. Researchers are encouraged to request the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for their specific lot number to review QC data, including purity assessment and functional testing results.

Ordering:

• SKU: Ab350904
• Product Name: CD83 Mouse mAb
• Clone: absea #KC-626
• Formulation: PBS only

How to Order: Place orders through the Aladdin Scientific website, by email to your regional sales representative, or via your institution's approved procurement portal. For bulk quantities, custom conjugation services, or OEM inquiries, contact Aladdin Scientific technical sales.

Returns & Quality Complaints: If you observe quality issues with this product, contact Aladdin Scientific customer support with your lot number, order number, and a brief description of the problem. Refer to Aladdin's return and refund policy for eligibility criteria.

Frequently asked questions

What cell types are appropriate positive controls for CD83 Mouse mAb staining?

Mature monocyte-derived dendritic cells (generated by treating monocytes with GM-CSF, IL-4, and a maturation stimulus such as LPS or TNF-α) are the most commonly used positive control, as they robustly upregulate CD83 upon maturation. Activated B cells and certain T cell populations also express CD83 and can serve as secondary controls depending on the experimental context.

Why is the PBS-only formulation important, and how should I handle it differently from azide-containing antibodies?

The PBS-only formulation (no BSA, no sodium azide) means the antibody is compatible with live-cell functional assays and downstream conjugation without azide-related cytotoxicity or interference with enzymatic labels. However, because no preservative is present, strict aseptic handling is essential, single-use aliquots are strongly recommended, and long-term storage should be at −20 °C or −80 °C to maintain activity.

Can Ab350904 be used for applications other than flow cytometry, such as immunohistochemistry or ELISA?

The available product information specifies this antibody primarily for immunoassay-based detection; however, suitability for specific platforms such as IHC (frozen or paraffin sections) or ELISA depends on whether the epitope is preserved under fixation and denaturation conditions used in those assays. Users should perform validation experiments for each new application, including appropriate positive and negative controls. Contact Aladdin Scientific technical support for guidance on verified application data for this clone.

How do I determine the optimal working concentration of CD83 Mouse mAb for my experiment?

Optimal antibody concentration should always be determined empirically through a titration experiment. Prepare a serial dilution series (e.g., 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 µg/mL) and evaluate signal-to-noise ratio on your specific cell population using flow cytometry. Select the concentration that gives the highest specific signal with the lowest background. Titration is especially important when switching cell types, instruments, or antibody lots.

References

1. Aladdin Scientific product datasheet: CD83 Mouse mAb, SKU Ab350904, clone absea #KC-626, PBS formulation.
2. Zhou LJ, Tedder TF. Human blood dendritic cells selectively express CD83, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. Journal of Immunology. 1995;154(8):3821-3835. PMID:7706722
3. Lechmann M, Zinser E, Golka A, Steinkasserer A. Role of CD83 in the immunomodulation of dendritic cells. International Archives of Allergy and Immunology. 2002;129(2):113-118. PMID:12403943

Products are supplied for research and development use only. Not for use in humans, animals, diagnosis, or therapy.