Johan Duchêne
@johanduchene.bsky.social
Dad, Husband & Scientist | Immunology, Inflammation, Chemokines & Atypical ChemoKine Receptors (ACKRs) | Research & Meta-Research | University of Munich (LMU)
Molecular Inflammation Lab
https://duchene.ipek-research.com
Molecular Inflammation Lab
https://duchene.ipek-research.com
Pinned
Johan Duchêne
@johanduchene.bsky.social
· Apr 30
Antibodies don't work.
NLRP3 is by far the most studied inflammasome — yet <30% of commercial antibodies were specific.
Only 4 of 14 tested antibodies detected NLRP3 specifically.
Antibodies must be validated before use.
Full report by @ycharos.bsky.social : zenodo.org/records/1162...
NLRP3 is by far the most studied inflammasome — yet <30% of commercial antibodies were specific.
Only 4 of 14 tested antibodies detected NLRP3 specifically.
Antibodies must be validated before use.
Full report by @ycharos.bsky.social : zenodo.org/records/1162...
Reposted by Johan Duchêne
🗨️ Just published in Nature Biotechnology: Our CellWhisperer AI enables chat-based analysis of single-cell sequencing data. You can talk to your cells & figure out the biology without writing any computer code. Paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s41.... Annotated walkthrough in a thread below (1/11)
November 11, 2025 at 12:52 PM
🗨️ Just published in Nature Biotechnology: Our CellWhisperer AI enables chat-based analysis of single-cell sequencing data. You can talk to your cells & figure out the biology without writing any computer code. Paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s41.... Annotated walkthrough in a thread below (1/11)
CD44 is involved in cell adhesion, migration & signaling.
It is key in inflammation and immune diseases & cancer.
Good news: most commercial CD44 antibodies are highly specific and work well for:
• Western blot
• Immunofluorescence
• Flow cytometry
Full report: zenodo.org/records/1562...
It is key in inflammation and immune diseases & cancer.
Good news: most commercial CD44 antibodies are highly specific and work well for:
• Western blot
• Immunofluorescence
• Flow cytometry
Full report: zenodo.org/records/1562...
November 14, 2025 at 8:06 AM
CD44 is involved in cell adhesion, migration & signaling.
It is key in inflammation and immune diseases & cancer.
Good news: most commercial CD44 antibodies are highly specific and work well for:
• Western blot
• Immunofluorescence
• Flow cytometry
Full report: zenodo.org/records/1562...
It is key in inflammation and immune diseases & cancer.
Good news: most commercial CD44 antibodies are highly specific and work well for:
• Western blot
• Immunofluorescence
• Flow cytometry
Full report: zenodo.org/records/1562...
S1PR1 controls lymphocyte egress & vascular integrity and is a target for multiple sclerosis therapies.
Studying S1PR1 expression using antibodies is key.
Among 9 commercial antibodies tested, only ONE is highly specific for detecting S1PR1.
Full report here: f1000research.com/articles/13-...
Studying S1PR1 expression using antibodies is key.
Among 9 commercial antibodies tested, only ONE is highly specific for detecting S1PR1.
Full report here: f1000research.com/articles/13-...
November 10, 2025 at 12:01 PM
S1PR1 controls lymphocyte egress & vascular integrity and is a target for multiple sclerosis therapies.
Studying S1PR1 expression using antibodies is key.
Among 9 commercial antibodies tested, only ONE is highly specific for detecting S1PR1.
Full report here: f1000research.com/articles/13-...
Studying S1PR1 expression using antibodies is key.
Among 9 commercial antibodies tested, only ONE is highly specific for detecting S1PR1.
Full report here: f1000research.com/articles/13-...
Reposted by Johan Duchêne
What a week! So pleased to now also see the peer reviewed version in Science Signaling of @megtriesscience.bsky.social PhD work joint with the Saunders lab, see her great thread for explanation below www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
November 4, 2025 at 8:06 PM
What a week! So pleased to now also see the peer reviewed version in Science Signaling of @megtriesscience.bsky.social PhD work joint with the Saunders lab, see her great thread for explanation below www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
APOE plays a key role in cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s disease.
Reliable tools are needed to study its expression and function.
Among 14 antibodies tested, 4 showed excellent performance.
Pick up the right one.
Report: f1000research.com/articles/12-...
Data summary: onlygoodantibodies.co.uk/28/
Reliable tools are needed to study its expression and function.
Among 14 antibodies tested, 4 showed excellent performance.
Pick up the right one.
Report: f1000research.com/articles/12-...
Data summary: onlygoodantibodies.co.uk/28/
October 30, 2025 at 9:02 AM
APOE plays a key role in cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s disease.
Reliable tools are needed to study its expression and function.
Among 14 antibodies tested, 4 showed excellent performance.
Pick up the right one.
Report: f1000research.com/articles/12-...
Data summary: onlygoodantibodies.co.uk/28/
Reliable tools are needed to study its expression and function.
Among 14 antibodies tested, 4 showed excellent performance.
Pick up the right one.
Report: f1000research.com/articles/12-...
Data summary: onlygoodantibodies.co.uk/28/
Reposted by Johan Duchêne
The antibodies don’t work! The race to rid labs of molecules that ruin experiments
Poorly performing antibodies have plagued biomedical sciences for decades. Several fresh initiatives hope to change this.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Poorly performing antibodies have plagued biomedical sciences for decades. Several fresh initiatives hope to change this.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The antibodies don’t work! The race to rid labs of molecules that ruin experiments
Poorly performing antibodies have plagued biomedical sciences for decades. Several fresh initiatives hope to change this.
www.nature.com
October 26, 2025 at 5:02 PM
The antibodies don’t work! The race to rid labs of molecules that ruin experiments
Poorly performing antibodies have plagued biomedical sciences for decades. Several fresh initiatives hope to change this.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Poorly performing antibodies have plagued biomedical sciences for decades. Several fresh initiatives hope to change this.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Johan Duchêne
Many articles reported using an antibody ... that didn’t even bind the key protein in Laflamme’s testing. Those articles had been cited over 3,000 times.
A key question is:
◼️ 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐞 & 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦?
Some investors assume an answer.
A key question is:
◼️ 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐞 & 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦?
Some investors assume an answer.
October 26, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Many articles reported using an antibody ... that didn’t even bind the key protein in Laflamme’s testing. Those articles had been cited over 3,000 times.
A key question is:
◼️ 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐞 & 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦?
Some investors assume an answer.
A key question is:
◼️ 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐞 & 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦?
Some investors assume an answer.
ALS is a neurodegenerative disease
C9ORF72 mutation is common
Understanding its biology is key
Laflamme 2019 (10.7554/eLife.48363) showed:
👉Most antibodies were non-specific
👉Specific ones never used
Since then:
❌ Sc-138763: discontinued
✅ Specific ones (GTX634482,GTX632041, ab221137): adopted
C9ORF72 mutation is common
Understanding its biology is key
Laflamme 2019 (10.7554/eLife.48363) showed:
👉Most antibodies were non-specific
👉Specific ones never used
Since then:
❌ Sc-138763: discontinued
✅ Specific ones (GTX634482,GTX632041, ab221137): adopted
October 12, 2025 at 10:42 AM
ALS is a neurodegenerative disease
C9ORF72 mutation is common
Understanding its biology is key
Laflamme 2019 (10.7554/eLife.48363) showed:
👉Most antibodies were non-specific
👉Specific ones never used
Since then:
❌ Sc-138763: discontinued
✅ Specific ones (GTX634482,GTX632041, ab221137): adopted
C9ORF72 mutation is common
Understanding its biology is key
Laflamme 2019 (10.7554/eLife.48363) showed:
👉Most antibodies were non-specific
👉Specific ones never used
Since then:
❌ Sc-138763: discontinued
✅ Specific ones (GTX634482,GTX632041, ab221137): adopted
Reposted by Johan Duchêne
'All three awards (...) honored achievements rooted in fundamental research from decades ago. Some experts interpret the selections by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences as representing the importance of slow, basic science, work pursued out of a desire to better understand the world.'
Nobel Prizes This Year Offer Three Cheers for Slow Science
www.nytimes.com
October 10, 2025 at 6:49 AM
'All three awards (...) honored achievements rooted in fundamental research from decades ago. Some experts interpret the selections by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences as representing the importance of slow, basic science, work pursued out of a desire to better understand the world.'
PARKIN labels damaged mitochondria for recycling
No PARKIN → no cleanup → neurodegeneration
Mutations in PARK2 are common in Parkinson’s disease
Accurate detection of PARKIN is crucial
Problem:
The most used antibodies are not selective
In contrast, some very specific antibodies are not used
No PARKIN → no cleanup → neurodegeneration
Mutations in PARK2 are common in Parkinson’s disease
Accurate detection of PARKIN is crucial
Problem:
The most used antibodies are not selective
In contrast, some very specific antibodies are not used
September 29, 2025 at 7:21 PM
PARKIN labels damaged mitochondria for recycling
No PARKIN → no cleanup → neurodegeneration
Mutations in PARK2 are common in Parkinson’s disease
Accurate detection of PARKIN is crucial
Problem:
The most used antibodies are not selective
In contrast, some very specific antibodies are not used
No PARKIN → no cleanup → neurodegeneration
Mutations in PARK2 are common in Parkinson’s disease
Accurate detection of PARKIN is crucial
Problem:
The most used antibodies are not selective
In contrast, some very specific antibodies are not used
⚠️ Half of commercial antibodies miss their target!
So how do you pick the right one for your experiment?
Here’s the solution 👉
Antibody characterization data (all tested in KO cells) are now available at:
🔗 onlygoodantibodies.co.uk
Tested by @ycharos.bsky.social & @oga-community.bsky.social
So how do you pick the right one for your experiment?
Here’s the solution 👉
Antibody characterization data (all tested in KO cells) are now available at:
🔗 onlygoodantibodies.co.uk
Tested by @ycharos.bsky.social & @oga-community.bsky.social
OGA - Only Good Antibodies Community
onlygoodantibodies.co.uk
September 29, 2025 at 6:34 PM
⚠️ Half of commercial antibodies miss their target!
So how do you pick the right one for your experiment?
Here’s the solution 👉
Antibody characterization data (all tested in KO cells) are now available at:
🔗 onlygoodantibodies.co.uk
Tested by @ycharos.bsky.social & @oga-community.bsky.social
So how do you pick the right one for your experiment?
Here’s the solution 👉
Antibody characterization data (all tested in KO cells) are now available at:
🔗 onlygoodantibodies.co.uk
Tested by @ycharos.bsky.social & @oga-community.bsky.social
Reposted by Johan Duchêne
The myth of scientific objectivity hides the truth that every experiment is influenced by cultural values, assumptions and beliefs – and that actually hurts the search for truth
Analysis:
buff.ly/KcLU0bE
🧪 🩺
Analysis:
buff.ly/KcLU0bE
🧪 🩺
Scientific objectivity is a myth – cultural values and beliefs always influence science and the people who do it
Cultural ideas are inextricably entwined with the people who do science, the questions they ask, the assumptions they hold and the conclusions they land on.
buff.ly
September 8, 2025 at 4:14 PM
The myth of scientific objectivity hides the truth that every experiment is influenced by cultural values, assumptions and beliefs – and that actually hurts the search for truth
Analysis:
buff.ly/KcLU0bE
🧪 🩺
Analysis:
buff.ly/KcLU0bE
🧪 🩺
Reposted by Johan Duchêne
We've also switched from mostly transgenic mouse strains to AAV/retrovirus "transgenes". It cut mouse costs by >50%, and makes our work faster and more responsive to reviewer requests. AAVs can even be used to produce depleting antibodies.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Durable lymphocyte subset elimination upon a single dose of AAV-delivered depletion antibody dissects immune control of chronic viral infection
To interrogate the role of specific immune cells in infection, cancer, and autoimmunity, immunologists commonly use monoclonal depletion antibodies (d…
www.sciencedirect.com
September 3, 2025 at 4:03 PM
We've also switched from mostly transgenic mouse strains to AAV/retrovirus "transgenes". It cut mouse costs by >50%, and makes our work faster and more responsive to reviewer requests. AAVs can even be used to produce depleting antibodies.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Johan Duchêne
You can also save money by cutting-costs and preventing waste. We do a low of flow cytometry, and retitrated antibodies for overnight staining, reducing costs ~100-fold while improving signal-to-noise and reproducibility
currentprotocols.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
currentprotocols.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Do more with Less: Improving High Parameter Cytometry Through Overnight Staining
Recent advances in flow cytometry have allowed high-dimensional characterization of biological phenomena, enabling breakthroughs in a multitude of fields. Despite the appreciation of the unique prope...
currentprotocols.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
September 3, 2025 at 4:03 PM
You can also save money by cutting-costs and preventing waste. We do a low of flow cytometry, and retitrated antibodies for overnight staining, reducing costs ~100-fold while improving signal-to-noise and reproducibility
currentprotocols.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
currentprotocols.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Johan Duchêne
Abstract submission and travel grant application for the 9th World Conference on Research Integrity are open. Please consider to submit an abstract and to reshare this message. lnkd.in/eJ9hmaRs
June 27, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Abstract submission and travel grant application for the 9th World Conference on Research Integrity are open. Please consider to submit an abstract and to reshare this message. lnkd.in/eJ9hmaRs
Reposted by Johan Duchêne
Today, our article "The entities enabling scientific fraud at scale are large, resilient, and growing rapidly" is finally published in PNAS. I hope that it proves to be a wake-up-call for the whole scientific community.
reeserichardson.blog/2025/08/04/a...
reeserichardson.blog/2025/08/04/a...
A do-or-die moment for the scientific enterprise
Reflecting on our paper “The entities enabling scientific fraud at scale are large, resilient, and growing rapidly”
reeserichardson.blog
August 4, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Today, our article "The entities enabling scientific fraud at scale are large, resilient, and growing rapidly" is finally published in PNAS. I hope that it proves to be a wake-up-call for the whole scientific community.
reeserichardson.blog/2025/08/04/a...
reeserichardson.blog/2025/08/04/a...
Reposted by Johan Duchêne
Stimulating immune cells in vitro is a common experimental lab model. We profiled 150K blood immune cells treated with 11 different stimuli to compare the effects. The data are freely available for researchers. See the preprint for our findings and to access the data 🧪 doi.org/10.1101/2025...
July 3, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Stimulating immune cells in vitro is a common experimental lab model. We profiled 150K blood immune cells treated with 11 different stimuli to compare the effects. The data are freely available for researchers. See the preprint for our findings and to access the data 🧪 doi.org/10.1101/2025...
A comparison of mouse vs human tumor microenvironments shows a major difference.
Mouse TMEs have more macrophages, while human TMEs have more T cells.
Chemokine expression patterns are also different.
Learn more: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Mouse TMEs have more macrophages, while human TMEs have more T cells.
Chemokine expression patterns are also different.
Learn more: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
July 7, 2025 at 5:16 AM
A comparison of mouse vs human tumor microenvironments shows a major difference.
Mouse TMEs have more macrophages, while human TMEs have more T cells.
Chemokine expression patterns are also different.
Learn more: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Mouse TMEs have more macrophages, while human TMEs have more T cells.
Chemokine expression patterns are also different.
Learn more: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#FluorescenceFriday & Erythroblast
Erythroblast stimulated with CXCL12, stained for CXCR4 (green) and nuclei (blue).
Captured via Correlative Light & Electron Microscopy by
@jemimaburden.bsky.social
Learn more: scim.ag/4kTxFZz
@antalpedro.bsky.social
@jffoley.bsky.social
@science.org
Erythroblast stimulated with CXCL12, stained for CXCR4 (green) and nuclei (blue).
Captured via Correlative Light & Electron Microscopy by
@jemimaburden.bsky.social
Learn more: scim.ag/4kTxFZz
@antalpedro.bsky.social
@jffoley.bsky.social
@science.org
June 27, 2025 at 2:28 PM
#FluorescenceFriday & Erythroblast
Erythroblast stimulated with CXCL12, stained for CXCR4 (green) and nuclei (blue).
Captured via Correlative Light & Electron Microscopy by
@jemimaburden.bsky.social
Learn more: scim.ag/4kTxFZz
@antalpedro.bsky.social
@jffoley.bsky.social
@science.org
Erythroblast stimulated with CXCL12, stained for CXCR4 (green) and nuclei (blue).
Captured via Correlative Light & Electron Microscopy by
@jemimaburden.bsky.social
Learn more: scim.ag/4kTxFZz
@antalpedro.bsky.social
@jffoley.bsky.social
@science.org
Reposted by Johan Duchêne
In our science.org/doi/10.1126/... we describe the hitherto overlooked erythroblast expression of CXCR4, which do not migrate in response to CXCR4 ligation by CXCL12. Instead, in these cells CXCR4 localises to the nucleus and mediates alternative cell responses in maturation and triggers enucleation
June 24, 2025 at 1:04 PM
In our science.org/doi/10.1126/... we describe the hitherto overlooked erythroblast expression of CXCR4, which do not migrate in response to CXCR4 ligation by CXCL12. Instead, in these cells CXCR4 localises to the nucleus and mediates alternative cell responses in maturation and triggers enucleation
Not all chemokine signaling is about cell migration!
In mouse erythroblasts, CXCL12-bound CXCR4 enters the nucleus to control gene transcription, trigger calcium bursts, and drive red blood cell formation—especially enucleation.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
In mouse erythroblasts, CXCL12-bound CXCR4 enters the nucleus to control gene transcription, trigger calcium bursts, and drive red blood cell formation—especially enucleation.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Intracellular and nuclear CXCR4 signaling promotes terminal erythroblast differentiation and enucleation
CXCL12-stimulated intracellular and nuclear CXCR4 signaling mediates erythroblast enucleation to generate red blood cells.
www.science.org
June 21, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Not all chemokine signaling is about cell migration!
In mouse erythroblasts, CXCL12-bound CXCR4 enters the nucleus to control gene transcription, trigger calcium bursts, and drive red blood cell formation—especially enucleation.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
In mouse erythroblasts, CXCL12-bound CXCR4 enters the nucleus to control gene transcription, trigger calcium bursts, and drive red blood cell formation—especially enucleation.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Not all chemokine signaling is about cell migration!
In mouse erythroblasts, CXCL12-bound CXCR4 enters the nucleus to control gene transcription, trigger calcium bursts, and drive red blood cell formation—especially enucleation.
🔗 science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…#chemokinen#CXCR4R4
In mouse erythroblasts, CXCL12-bound CXCR4 enters the nucleus to control gene transcription, trigger calcium bursts, and drive red blood cell formation—especially enucleation.
🔗 science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…#chemokinen#CXCR4R4
June 21, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Not all chemokine signaling is about cell migration!
In mouse erythroblasts, CXCL12-bound CXCR4 enters the nucleus to control gene transcription, trigger calcium bursts, and drive red blood cell formation—especially enucleation.
🔗 science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…#chemokinen#CXCR4R4
In mouse erythroblasts, CXCL12-bound CXCR4 enters the nucleus to control gene transcription, trigger calcium bursts, and drive red blood cell formation—especially enucleation.
🔗 science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…#chemokinen#CXCR4R4
Reposted by Johan Duchêne
Yesterday.. our #CLEM with Julia Gutjahr and Antal Rot was featured in the main Science webpage....☺️ Nice to see #correlativemicroscopy and #volumeEM up front and centre.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
June 18, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Yesterday.. our #CLEM with Julia Gutjahr and Antal Rot was featured in the main Science webpage....☺️ Nice to see #correlativemicroscopy and #volumeEM up front and centre.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Johan Duchêne
CXCL12-stimulated intracellular and nuclear CXCR4 signaling mediates erythroblast enucleation to generate red blood cells
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
June 17, 2025 at 10:10 PM
CXCL12-stimulated intracellular and nuclear CXCR4 signaling mediates erythroblast enucleation to generate red blood cells
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...