| Background | CD44 (HCAM) is a transmembrane protein expressed by lymphocytes, erythrocytes and several normal epithelial cells and is a member of the CAM family. It is involved in lymphocyte homing, T-lymphocyte activation, interaction with hyaluronic acid and may act as an adhesion molecule. The human CD44 is composed of 19 exons, 9 variably expressed due to alternative splicing of mRNA; RT CD44 (CD44s) is composed of exons 1-5 and 15-19. The loss of CD44s expression predicts unfavorable outcome in bladder cancers, squamous cell carcinomas of the skin, prostatic adenocarcinoma and neuroblastomas. In immunoblotting the antibody reacts with a glycoprotein isolated from hematopoetic cells and epithelial cells with a respective molecular weight of 29-37 kD and 51 kD. Positive control: Tonsil (cell membrane staining). |
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