Cluster of differentiation (CD) antigens are membrane proteins in nature that are predominantly expressed on the leukocyte surface. However diminutive sums of CD antigens have also been reported to be expressed on other cell types which include the endothelial, stem, and dendritic cells along with erythrocytes. The CD antigens associated with the surface membranes are usually involved in a variety of functions including receptors, transporters and ion channels. The CD nomenclature was originally envisioned for categorization of the several monoclonal antibodies produced against diverse epitopes of the cell surface molecules as a result of hybridoma technology. As precursor cells differentiate into a specific pedigree, expression of CD antigens change and presence of these antigens enable the researchers to identify and characterize cell populations by cell sorting in flow cytometry (1).
Data obtained by the flow analysis can be interpreted by the cluster analysis based on the pattern of binding of the antibodies to the cells. The distribution of the staining pattern also plays a critical role in the characterization of these cells whether it is cytoplasmic, nuclear or membranous in nature in positively stained cohorts of the cell population being tested for a particular CD antigen. Currently there are more than 350 known CD markers with at least more than one monoclonal antibody for each CD antigen while many more will be added to the ever growing inventory of these CD markers. Novus Biologicals in the forefront specializing in flow cytometry reagents and offer the latest range of CD antibody markers for your research needs.
Novus offers flow cytometry validated CD marker antibodies to:
