Cell Surface Marker
Cluster of differentiation (CD) molecules are markers on the cell surface, as recognized by specific sets of antibodies, used to identify the cell type, stage of differentiation and activity of a cell. CD117 is an important cell surface marker used to identify certain types of hematopoietic (blood) progenitors in the bone marrow. To be specific, hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), multipotent progenitors (MPP), and common myeloid progenitors (CMP) express high levels of CD117. Common lymphoid progenitors (CLP) expresses low surface levels of CD117. CD117 also identifies the earliest thymocyte progenitors in the thymus. To be specific, early T lineage progenitors (ETP/DN1) and DN2 thymocytes express high levels of c-Kit. It is also a marker for mouse prostate stem cells. In addition, mast cells, melanocytes in the skin, and interstitial cells of Cajal in the digestive tract express CD117.
Read more about this topic: CD117
Famous quotes containing the words cell, surface and/or marker:
“Theres not one part of his physical being thats like that of human beings. From his warped brain down to the tiniest argumentative cell of his huge carcass, hes unearthly.”
—Willis Cooper. Rowland V. Lee. Wolf von Frankenstein (Basil Rathbone)
“Bees
Shaking the heavy dews from bloom and frond.
Boys
Bursting the surface of the ebony pond.”
—Wilfred Owen (18931918)
“Personal change, growth, development, identity formationthese tasks that once were thought to belong to childhood and adolescence alone now are recognized as part of adult life as well. Gone is the belief that adulthood is, or ought to be, a time of internal peace and comfort, that growing pains belong only to the young; gone the belief that these are marker eventsa job, a mate, a childthrough which we will pass into a life of relative ease.”
—Lillian Breslow Rubin (20th century)