This gene encodes a 110-kD transmembrane glycoprotein that is highly expressed by human monocytes and tissue macrophages. It is a member of the lysosomal/endosomal-associated membrane glycoprotein (LAMP) family. The protein primarily localizes to lysosomes and endosomes with a smaller fraction circulating to the cell surface. It is a type I integral membrane protein with a heavily glycosylated extracellular domain and binds to tissue- and organ-specific lectins or selectins. The protein is also a member of the scavenger receptor family. Scavenger receptors typically function to clear cellular debris, promote phagocytosis, and mediate the recruitment and activation of macrophages. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcripts encoding different isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]
Molecular Weight(MW)
37 kDa(Observed band size: 110 kDa)
Function
CD68 (Macrosialin) is a 110 kDa integral membrane glycoprotein predominantly expressed on the intracellular lysomsomes of monocytes and macrophages and to a lesser extent by dendritic cells and peripheral blood granulocytes. Also, CD68 could play a role in phagocytic activities of tissue macrophages, both in intracellular lysosomal metabolism and extracellular cell-cell and cell-pathogen interactions. CD68 is expressed by interdigitating reticulum cells in tonsil and some histiocytic lymphoma or histiocytosis, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and granulocytic sarcoma. Elevated expression of CD68 has been demonstrated on CD34+ cells in various human malignancies, including several Acute Myeloid Leukemia studies.
Cellular Localization
Cell membrane,Endosome,Lysosome,Membrane
Application
WB
Western blot analysis of Mouse spleen and Rat spleen lysates using CD68 Goat pAb
IF
Immunofluorescence analysis of Human liver cancer tissue using CD68 Goat pAb