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KLF17 / Krueppel-like factor 17 · IHC design guide
Design Immunohistochemistry for KLF17
Plan KLF17 IHC-P using testis, where elongated or late spermatids stain strongly (HPA tissue IHC). Start the catalog antibody at 5 μg/mL (datasheet: 5 μg/mL), and assess nuclear localisation as a molecular expectation (UniProt).
Evidence assembled Oct 2026 · For research use; verify linked source records and product datasheet before use
KLF17 Immunohistochemistry Experimental Design Guide
Expected localisation, validated protocols, controls and antibodies — the at-a-glance facts below, then the full design guide.
Must know before staining
| Expected localisation | Nuclear location expected (UniProt); tissue compartment unreported (HPA tissue IHC) | |
| Staining pattern | High in elongated or late spermatids; subcellular pattern unreported (HPA tissue IHC) | |
| Antigen retrieval | Tris-EDTA pH 9.0 HIER, 95–98 °C, 20 min (rule: nuclear antigen) | |
| Positive control | Testis | |
| Negative control | Adipose tissue+4 more · see all |
Important caveats
Reasons your staining may differ from the expected pattern.
| Fixation | Matched tissue-IHC evidence does not establish the fixation claim. Validate the specimen-specific method before use. (selected-SKU IHC image A09147) | |
| Caveat | Human IHC performance is untested for A09147 (datasheet) | |
| Regulation | Testis-enriched RNA (HPA tissue RNA) | |
| Isoform / epitope | No annotated isoforms or processing; epitope map unresolved (UniProt) |
Section 1
Recommended KLF17 IHC & IF Protocols
The catalog antibody’s IHC protocol is complemented by published KLF17 staining methods for human lung and gastric tissue (PMC5503568; PMC8573523).
| Sample | Tissue sections; selected-image fixative not specified (standard IHC workflow) |
| Fixation | Image fixative and duration unreported (datasheet A09147); verify before use. |
| Sectioning | 4–5 µm sections on charged slides (standard) |
| Deparaffinisation | Xylene, graded ethanol series to water (standard) |
| Antigen retrieval | Heat-induced epitope retrieval in Tris-EDTA buffer, pH 9.0, 20 min at 95–98 °C (standard rule: nuclear antigen) |
| Peroxidase block | 3% H2O2, 10 min, room temperature (standard) |
| Blocking | 10% normal serum of the secondary host, 30 min, room temperature (standard) |
| Primary antibody | Rabbit anti-KLF17, 5 μg/mL (datasheet A09147) |
| Primary incubation | Overnight at 4 °C (standard) |
| Detection | HRP-polymer secondary, DAB chromogen 5–10 min (standard) |
| Counterstain | Hematoxylin, blue, dehydrate and mount (standard) |
| Expected result | KLF17-positive staining in elongated or late spermatids of testis (HPA tissue IHC: High). HPA tissue profile: Expression in testis. No signal in the no-primary control. |
💡Decision noteStart with Tris-EDTA pH 9.0 retrieval at 95–98 °C for 20 min for nuclear KLF17 (page antigen retrieval; UniProt: nucleus).
Section 2
What Is the Expected KLF17 Staining Pattern?
KLF17 is a nuclear transcription factor with no transmembrane segment (UniProt Q5JT82). In paraffin-section IHC, expect staining in elongated or late spermatids in testis, the cell population scored High by HPA (HPA tissue IHC). HPA rates its IHC evidence Enhanced, while describing only medium consistency with RNA data and pending external verification (HPA tissue IHC).
| Distinct chromogenic signal over nuclei of elongated or late spermatids in testis. | This matches the reported High testis cell population (HPA tissue IHC) and nuclear location (UniProt Q5JT82). Judge the signal against a counterstain and the distribution of the same cell population across the section (general IHC practice). |
| Predominantly cytoplasmic or surface staining, with little nuclear signal in the expected cells. | That distribution conflicts with the UniProt nuclear assignment and absence of a transmembrane segment (UniProt Q5JT82). Treat it as suspect; inspect controls and morphology before assigning it to KLF17 (general IHC practice). |
| Strong signal in cells other than elongated or late spermatids, such as adrenal glandular cells. | HPA scores adrenal glandular cells Not detected (HPA tissue IHC). Investigate antibody cross-reactivity or detection-system activity; a discrepant stain alone cannot identify which is responsible (general IHC practice). |
| Diffuse brown deposit across tissue, including spaces outside cells. | A widespread deposit does not show the expected cell and nuclear pattern (HPA tissue IHC; UniProt Q5JT82). Review blocking, washes, detection controls and section quality as general chromogenic IHC checks (general IHC practice). |
| No signal in a testis section containing elongated or late spermatids. | This disagrees with the HPA High result for those cells (HPA tissue IHC). First verify that the expected cells are present, then check reagent performance and staining conditions; one negative section does not settle target absence (general IHC practice). |
💡Expected KLF17 appearanceCall positive when elongated or late spermatids show conspicuous nuclear chromogen (HPA tissue IHC: High; UniProt Q5JT82: nucleus); diffuse staining or signal confined to another compartment is suspect against that reference pattern (general IHC interpretation).
| Cell population and strength | HPA reports High staining in elongated or late spermatids in testis, not a numerical intensity cutoff (HPA tissue IHC). Score the named cells, and record how many are present, rather than treating an entire testis section as uniformly positive (general IHC practice). |
| Localization and topology | UniProt assigns KLF17 to the nucleus and lists no transmembrane segment (UniProt Q5JT82). Nuclear staining is therefore the expected compartment; neither record supplies a separate tissue-level map of cytoplasmic staining. |
| Evidence strength | HPA lists the tissue IHC result as Enhanced but also states medium consistency with RNA expression and pending external verification (HPA tissue IHC). Use its pattern as a reference for assessment, with those limits stated. |
| Processing and isoforms | UniProt lists a single 1–389 chain, no signal peptide or propeptide, and zero annotated isoforms or glycosylation sites (UniProt Q5JT82). The supplied record gives no epitope map, so it cannot predict how any particular IHC antibody binds. |
| Fixation and retrieval | Target-specific fixation effects are not established by the supplied assay evidence. Verify with a matched IHC source before attributing a result to fixation. |
| IF/ICC Q&A | Q: Is an ICC-IF pattern documented here? A: HPA lists no KLF17 ICC-IF images or main location (HPA subcellular). Nuclear localization comes from UniProt, so an IF result needs its own controls and cannot be called HPA-confirmed (UniProt Q5JT82; general IF practice). |
| Situation | Likely cause | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Testis section stains weakly or remains blank. | The expected elongated or late spermatids may be absent from the area assessed, or the IHC run may have failed; HPA reports High staining specifically in those cells (HPA tissue IHC). | Confirm cell identity on the counterstain, then compare a documented positive section and run controls. Review antibody and detection steps before changing general retrieval conditions (general IHC practice). |
| Signal sits mainly in cytoplasm instead of nuclei. | The location differs from UniProt's nuclear assignment (UniProt Q5JT82). Background, detection deposits or cell-identification errors are possible explanations, not established KLF17 biology (general IHC interpretation). | Check morphology and a no-primary control; repeat with the IHC-validated antibody and assess whether signal overlaps nuclei in the expected cells (general IHC practice). |
| Adrenal glandular cells or adipocytes stain strongly. | Those named cell populations are scored Not detected in the supplied HPA tissue IHC data (HPA tissue IHC). Cross-reactivity or endogenous detection activity may explain a discrepancy (general IHC practice). | Check the matching cell type in controls, inspect a no-primary control, and review detection-system blocking. Report the discrepancy if it persists rather than assigning target specificity from stain alone (general IHC practice). |
| Diffuse chromogen obscures cell boundaries. | The deposit prevents assessment of the cell-restricted, nuclear reference pattern (HPA tissue IHC; UniProt Q5JT82). Excess detection signal or insufficient washing may contribute (general IHC practice). | Review no-primary controls, washes and detection exposure; adjust these general IHC steps while retaining a positive control for comparison (general IHC practice). |
| A section appears positive only at its edge or in damaged areas. | An edge-restricted deposit does not reproduce the HPA cell population or UniProt compartment assignment (HPA tissue IHC; UniProt Q5JT82). Section artifacts can complicate interpretation (general IHC practice). | Score intact interior tissue, compare serial sections and examine a no-primary control before calling the case positive (general IHC practice). |
| An IF image is offered as confirmation of the IHC result. | HPA supplies no KLF17 ICC-IF image or main-location call in this payload (HPA subcellular). UniProt's nuclear assignment does not validate that particular IF image (UniProt Q5JT82). | Evaluate the IF image with its own nuclear counterstain and controls, and report it separately from the paraffin-section IHC pattern (general IF practice). |
Experiment evidence
IHC & IF images showing KLF17 staining
A09147 · IHCImmunohistochemistry of KLF17 in mouse liver tissue with KLG17 antibody at 5 μg/ml.
HPA · Cerebral cortexHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Cerebral cortex. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000171872-KLF17/tissue/cerebral+cortex#imid_20058629
HPA · ColonHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Colon. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000171872-KLF17/tissue/colon#imid_20058539
HPA · LiverHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Liver. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000171872-KLF17/tissue/liver#imid_20058556
HPA · KidneyHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Kidney. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000171872-KLF17/tissue/kidney#imid_20058541
← swipe / scroll for more images →
Real IHC / IF data behind the staining-pattern expectations in this section.
Sample controls for KLF17 IHC & IF
🧪Run testis first and look for staining in elongated or late spermatids (HPA: High in elongated or late spermatids). Use adipose tissue as a negative, focusing on adipocytes (HPA: Not detected in adipocytes); on the testis slide, cells outside the annotated spermatid population should provide a background comparison, though their KLF17 status is not specified by the supplied HPA row.
Positive control tissue: Testis (Elongated or late spermatids, HPA High)
Negative control tissue: Adipose tissue (HPA Not detected)
ICC-IF cell lines (HPA subcellular resource): HPA carries no ICC-IF cell line for KLF17; derive a cell-line control from the positive tissue's cell type (Elongated or late spermatids) and confirm it by RNA or western blot first.
Technical controls: Include a no-primary, secondary-only control and an isotype control matched to the primary antibody’s host species and antibody class (standard IHC practice). Use KLF17 knockout tissue, if available, as a biological specificity control; check endogenous peroxidase background in testis for chromogenic detection (standard IHC practice).
⚠️Feasibility: A target-specific fixation window and antigen-retrieval dependency are unreported in the supplied evidence; the selected A09147 mouse-liver IHC caption also leaves the fixative unreported (selected-SKU tissue-IHC caption). The evidence does not establish whether frozen sections or IF would be easier. In testis, crowded, counterstained spermatid nuclei can complicate assessment of the expected nuclear signal (HPA: High in elongated or late spermatids; UniProt Q5JT82: nucleus).
HPA tissue IHC evidence for KLF17
Comprehensive Human Protein Atlas IHC scoring per tissue (reliability: Enhanced — Medium consistency between antibody staining and RNA expression data. Pending external verification.). Rows are taken directly from the HPA tissue chart — click any row's HPA link to view the source.
Positive expression · recommended positive controls
| Tissue | Cell type | Level | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Testis | Elongated or late spermatids | High | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
Undetected expression · recommended negative controls
| Tissue | Cell type | Level | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adipose tissue | Adipocytes | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Adrenal gland | Glandular cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Appendix | Glandular cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Bone marrow | Hematopoietic cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Breast | Adipocytes | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
Section 3
Advanced KLF17 IHC Tips
Troubleshoot KLF17 staining by assessing retrieval, nuclear localisation, cell identity and controls in chromogenic paraffin section IHC (UniProt Q5JT82; HPA tissue IHC).
How should I adjust retrieval when KLF17 nuclear staining is weak?
Start with Tris-EDTA at pH 9.0 for heat induced epitope retrieval at 95–98 °C for 20 min (page retrieval setting). Allow sections to cool consistently, then compare the same antibody dilution and detection conditions across runs so retrieval is the main variable (standard IHC practice). Score nuclear signal in elongated or late spermatids separately from diffuse tissue colour, because that cell population shows high KLF17 staining (HPA tissue IHC). If signal remains weak, test a milder retrieval condition on adjacent sections while retaining a no primary control (standard IHC practice). The selected antibody’s mouse liver IHC caption reports 5 µg/ml but gives no retrieval conditions, so it cannot establish retrieval performance (A09147 caption).
Could fixation explain absent or diffuse KLF17 staining?
KLF17 specific sensitivity to fixation is unknown from the supplied evidence; the selected mouse liver IHC caption does not state its fixative (A09147 caption). For paraffin sections, record fixative, fixation duration and processing history, then compare sections handled alike before changing the antibody concentration (standard IHC practice). Prolonged fixation can reduce accessible epitopes, while inadequate preservation can compromise nuclear detail, but neither effect has been established specifically for KLF17 (standard IHC practice). Check tissue morphology and nuclear counterstain alongside the chromogen before judging a weak result (standard IHC practice). Use a similarly processed positive reference and a no primary control to distinguish specimen handling from detection background (HPA tissue IHC; standard IHC practice).
Where should convincing KLF17 chromogen appear in a tissue section?
Prioritise staining that resolves to nuclei, because KLF17 is annotated as nuclear and acts as a transcriptional repressor (UniProt Q5JT82). In testis, examine elongated or late spermatids specifically, where tissue IHC reports high signal, rather than scoring the whole section uniformly (HPA tissue IHC). A predominantly membrane bound pattern conflicts with the annotation of no transmembrane segment and warrants scrutiny of controls and tissue morphology (UniProt Q5JT82; standard IHC practice). Verify nuclear boundaries with a restrained counterstain and inspect the same structures at higher magnification (standard IHC practice). Cytoplasmic haze alone should not establish KLF17 positivity; document its distribution and check a no primary control (UniProt Q5JT82; standard IHC practice).
How can I assess whether the antibody detects the intended KLF17 epitope?
The supplied record lists one 389 amino acid chain, no annotated isoforms, and no annotated glycosylation or modified residues (UniProt Q5JT82). Those annotations do not identify the catalog antibody’s epitope or prove that processing leaves it accessible in paraffin sections (UniProt Q5JT82; standard IHC practice). Check the antibody’s stated immunogen or epitope, if available, and compare staining with an independent antibody recognising a distinct region (standard IHC practice). Keep retrieval and detection conditions matched when comparing antibodies, and assess agreement in nuclear pattern and cell identity (standard IHC practice). Disagreement calls for further specificity controls; the absence of annotated isoforms alone cannot settle which signal is genuine (UniProt Q5JT82; standard IHC practice).
How should I adapt KLF17 localisation checks for multiplex IF?
For the separate IF/ICC workflow, pair KLF17 with a validated marker of elongated or late spermatids when examining testis, the cell population with high tissue IHC signal (HPA tissue IHC; standard IF practice). Assign KLF17 a fluorophore in a channel with low measured tissue autofluorescence, and check single colour controls before interpreting overlap (standard IF practice). Because KLF17 is nuclear and has no transmembrane segment, use permeabilisation that permits antibody access to the nuclear compartment (UniProt Q5JT82; standard IF practice). Optimise permeabilisation against nuclear morphology and retention of the companion marker (standard IF practice). The supplied subcellular record lists no ICC/IF images, so confirm specificity within the IF workflow rather than assuming the IHC pattern transfers (HPA subcellular record).
What should I change when brown signal obscures KLF17 nuclei?
First compare the stained section with a no primary control and inspect whether colour follows tissue edges, damaged areas or endogenous pigment (standard IHC practice). In a peroxidase based chromogenic workflow, block endogenous peroxidase and use DAB exposure that preserves nuclear boundaries; these are general IHC steps, not KLF17 specific validation (standard IHC practice). Titrate the primary antibody and detection reagent separately, using matched sections and identical imaging conditions (standard IHC practice). The selected mouse liver IHC caption reports 5 µg/ml, but does not provide a transferable dilution or background assessment for paraffin sections (A09147 caption). Retain the cell specific nuclear readout when judging improvement, because testis elongated or late spermatids show high signal (HPA tissue IHC).
How should I score KLF17 across comparable paraffin sections? ⚠ ANSWER MARKED FOR VERIFICATION
Define the analysed tissue region and cell class before scoring, with elongated or late spermatids as a relevant testis population (HPA tissue IHC; standard IHC practice). Report the percentage of nuclei above a prespecified threshold and, when intensity matters, an H-score based on the fractions of cells at each staining intensity (standard IHC practice). Normalise positive counts to the number of eligible cells, or report positive cell density per mm² of evaluable tissue (standard IHC practice). Keep retrieval, chromogen development, counterstain and imaging settings consistent across compared sections (standard IHC practice). Exclude folds, necrosis and section edges using a documented rule, and retain no primary control results when setting thresholds (standard IHC practice).
When is a KLF17 positive result likely to be artefactual?
A convincing result should show resolved nuclear staining, consistent with KLF17’s annotated nuclear location, in a biologically interpretable cell population (UniProt Q5JT82; standard IHC practice). In testis, high signal in elongated or late spermatids supports the expected pattern, while staining in another cell type needs independent confirmation (HPA tissue IHC; standard IHC practice). Diffuse cytoplasmic or membrane colour, edge accentuation and staining over necrosis should prompt closer inspection rather than automatic positive scoring (UniProt Q5JT82; standard IHC practice). Compare no primary controls to identify endogenous enzyme activity or detection background in the chromogenic workflow (standard IHC practice). The selected mouse liver image establishes reported IHC staining only; its caption does not specify fixation or prove cell specific localisation (A09147 caption).
Boster reagents
Best KLF17 / Krueppel-like factor 17 IHC Antibodies
A09147 has a mouse-liver IHC image (image caption: mouse liver) and lists human, mouse and rat reactivity (catalog: reactivity); no IF image is supplied (catalog: IF images).
Real IHC data
Anti-Krueppel-like factor 17 KLF17 Antibody
Cat # A09147
A09147 will render with an IHC image from mouse liver at 5 μg/mL (image caption: mouse liver, 5 μg/mL). Its listed applications include IHC-P, while the catalog supplies no IF image (catalog: applications; IF images).
Which to pick: Choose A09147 for paraffin-section IHC: IHC-P is listed, and its own image shows mouse-liver IHC at 5 μg/mL (catalog: applications; image caption: mouse liver, 5 μg/mL); the fixative is unreported (image caption). No listed SKU has IF/ICC validation or an IF dilution (catalog: applications; IF dilution). A09147 lists human, mouse and rat reactivity, but the supplied IHC image documents mouse tissue only (catalog: reactivity; image caption: mouse liver).
Each figure is that product's own IHC / IF validation image from its datasheet.
References
- UniProt Consortium. UniProt entry Q5JT82 (KLF17_HUMAN, Krueppel-like factor 17).
- Human Protein Atlas. KLF17 tissue IHC expression (reliability: Enhanced).
- Human Protein Atlas. KLF17 subcellular location (ICC-IF): Highest expression in HeLa: 0.5 nTPM.
- Human Protein Atlas. KLF17 antibody validation summary (1 antibodies).
- Krüppel-like factor 17 inhibits urokinase plasminogen activator gene expression to suppress cell invasion through the Src/p38/ MAPK signaling pathway in human lung adenocarcionma. Oncotarget 2017 — PMC5503568.
- Effect of KLF17 overexpression on epithelial-mesenchymal transition of gastric cancer cells. The Journal of international medical research 2021 — PMC8573523.
- Overexpression of KLF17 Predicts a Favorable Prognosis in Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) 2020 — PMC7073896.
- FET-Rearranged Myoepithelial Tumors Are Clinically Heterogeneous and Epigenetically Distinct from PLAG1-Rearranged Adnexal and Salivary Gland Myoepithelial Tumors. Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research 2026 — PMC12910854.
- PubMed PMID:14702039 — UniProt-cited evidence.
- PubMed PMID:16710414 — UniProt-cited evidence.
- PubMed PMID:15489334 — UniProt-cited evidence.
Immunohistochemistry protocol sheet for KLF17 (Krueppel-like factor 17). Expected localisation Nuclear location expected (UniProt); tissue compartment unreported (HPA tissue IHC). Antigen retrieval: Tris-EDTA pH 9.0 HIER, 95–98 °C, 20 min (rule: nuclear antigen). Validated IHC antibody: A09147 at 5 μg/mL (the product's own IHC validation image is shown). Controls (HPA): positive Testis (Elongated or late spermatids); negative Adipose tissue. IHC workflow; specimen preparation unspecified. Protocol steps: 1. Sample: Tissue sections; selected-image fixative not specified (standard IHC workflow); 2. Fixation: Image fixative and duration unreported (datasheet A09147); verify before use.; 3. Sectioning: 4–5 µm sections on charged slides (standard); 4. Deparaffinisation: Xylene, graded ethanol series to water (standard); 5. Antigen retrieval: Heat-induced epitope retrieval in Tris-EDTA buffer, pH 9.0 , 20 min at 95–98 °C…; 6. Peroxidase block: 3% H2O2, 10 min , room temperature (standard); 7. Blocking: 10% normal serum of the secondary host, 30 min , room temperature (standard); 8. Primary antibody: Rabbit anti-KLF17, 5 μg/mL (datasheet A09147); 9. Primary incubation: Overnight at 4 °C (standard). Watch for: Fixation: Matched tissue-IHC evidence does not establish the fixation claim. Validate the specimen-specific method before use. (selected-SKU IHC image A09147); Caveat: Human IHC performance is untested for A09147 (datasheet); Isoform / epitope: No annotated isoforms or processing; epitope map unresolved (UniProt); Regulation: Testis-enriched RNA (HPA tissue RNA). Evidence: UniProt Q5JT82, HPA tissue IHC · Enhanced, HPA cell-line RNA · Highest expression in HeLa: 0.5 nTPM, Datasheet A09147, PMC5503568, PMC8573523. QR code links to https://www.bosterbio.com/bosterbio-gene-info-cards/KLF17/immunohistochemistry-ihc-guide.