CD Antigens
Product List
CD68 Human
CD68 Human Recombinant
CD68 is fused to a 25 amino acid His-tag at N-terminus & purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques.
CD68 Human, 38kDa
CD68 Human Recombinant, 38kDa
CD68 is purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques.
CD68 Human, sf9
CD68 Human Recombinant, sf9
CD68 is fused to 6 amino acid His-Tag at C-terminus and purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques.
Introduction
CD68, also known as Cluster of Differentiation 68, is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein highly expressed by cells in the monocyte lineage, including monocytes, macrophages, and myeloid leukemia cells with monocytic differentiation . It is also known by other names such as GP110, LAMP4, and SCARD1 . CD68 is primarily found in the lysosomal membrane and is a member of the lysosome-associated membrane glycoprotein (LAMP) family .
Key Biological Properties: CD68 is a heavily glycosylated protein with a molecular weight of 110 kD . It consists of 354 amino acids and has a heavily glycosylated extracellular domain .
Expression Patterns: CD68 is highly expressed in cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage, including circulating macrophages and tissue macrophages such as Kupffer cells and microglia .
Tissue Distribution: CD68 is found in various tissues, including the spleen, liver, lung, and lymph nodes . It is also expressed in the stromal cells of the bone marrow, decidua, and spleen .
Primary Biological Functions: CD68 plays a crucial role in the immune system by promoting phagocytosis and mediating the recruitment and activation of macrophages . It functions as a scavenger receptor, clearing cellular debris and apoptotic cells .
Role in Immune Responses: CD68 is involved in pathogen recognition and the immune response by binding to tissue- and organ-specific lectins or selectins, allowing macrophages to home to particular sites . It also participates in the clearance of modified low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) and other ligands .
Mechanisms with Other Molecules and Cells: CD68 interacts with various molecules and cells through its role as a scavenger receptor. It binds to oxLDL, phosphatidylserine, and apoptotic cells, facilitating their clearance .
Binding Partners: CD68 binds to tissue- and organ-specific lectins or selectins, allowing macrophage subsets to home to specific sites .
Downstream Signaling Cascades: CD68 is involved in downstream signaling cascades that promote phagocytosis and the activation of macrophages .
Regulatory Mechanisms: The expression and activity of CD68 are regulated at multiple levels, including transcriptional regulation and post-translational modifications . CD68 expression can be upregulated in response to inflammatory signals and other stimuli .
Transcriptional Regulation: CD68 gene expression is controlled by various transcription factors that respond to inflammatory signals .
Post-Translational Modifications: CD68 undergoes extensive glycosylation, which is crucial for its function and stability .
Biomedical Research: CD68 is widely used as a marker for macrophages and monocytes in immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry . It helps in identifying and studying these cells in various tissues and conditions.
Diagnostic Tools: CD68 is used in the diagnosis of diseases involving macrophages, such as certain types of leukemia and histiocytosis . It helps distinguish between different forms of leukemia and other hematopoietic disorders .
Therapeutic Strategies: Targeting CD68 and its pathways can be a potential therapeutic strategy for diseases involving macrophages, such as chronic inflammatory conditions and certain cancers .
Development: CD68 is expressed during the differentiation of monocytes into macrophages and plays a role in their maturation and function .
Aging: The expression and function of CD68 can change with aging, potentially affecting the immune response and the clearance of cellular debris .
Disease: CD68 is involved in various diseases, including chronic inflammatory conditions, cancers, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) . Its expression can be upregulated in response to disease-related stimuli, contributing to disease progression and pathology .
