Antibodies specific to heterodimers of bcl-2 family and uses thereof

Abstract

Isolated antibodies specifically binding to heterodimers of the Bcl-2 family and uses thereof for detecting presence of Bcl-2 heterodimers in a patient.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method for detecting the presence of a heterodimer of the Bcl-2 family in a fixed tissue sample, comprising
 (a) contacting an isolated antibody specifically binding to a heterodimer selected from Bim and Mcl-1, Bim and Bcl-2, and Bid and Bcl-2 to a fixed tissue sample suspected of having a heterodimer of the Bcl-2 family;   (b) detecting a signal that indicates binding of the antibody to the heterodimer, and   (c) determining the presence of the heterodimer in the fixed tissue sample based on the intensity of the signal.   
     
     
         11 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fixed tissue sample is a peripheral blood sample, a lymph-node sample, a bone marrow sample, or an organ tissue sample. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fixed tissue sample is a mitochondrial fraction. 
     
     
         15 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fixed tissue sample is a paraffin embedded tissue sample. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fixed tissue sample is a frozen thin section tissue sample.