Anti-CD146 / MCAM / MUC18, clone rMUC18/1130

Prediluted in 1X PBS with 0.1 mg/ml BSA (US sourced) and 0.05% sodium azide, *For IHC use only*. CD146 expression is restricted to advanced primary and metastatic melanomas and to cell lines of the neuroectodermal lineage, but not normal melanocytes. It is found on 80% of advanced primary human melanomas and correlates well with development of metastatic disease. Protein function: Plays a role in cell adhesion, and in cohesion of the endothelial monolayer at intercellular junctions in vascular tissue. Its expression may allow melanoma cells to interact with cellular elements of the vascular system, thereby enhancing hematogeneous tumor spread. Could be an adhesion molecule active in neural crest cells during embryonic development. Acts as surface receptor that triggers tyrosine phosphorylation of FYN and PTK2/FAK1, and a transient increase in the intracellular calcium concentration. [The UniProt Consortium]