Anti-CD44v4 (Marker of Tumor Metastasis) Recombinant Mouse Monoclonal Antibody (clone:rCD44v4/1219)

This antibody recognizes an epitope encoded by exon v4 on the variant portion of human CD44.The CD44 molecule belongs to a family of cellular adhesion molecules found on a wide range of normal and malignant cells in epithelial, mesothelial and hemopoiesis tissues. CD44 is a single gene with 20 exons, of which 10 are normally expressed to encode the basic CD44 (H-CAM) molecule. The additional 10 exons (v1 to v10) are only expressed by alternative splicing of the nuclear RNA. The expression of specific cell adhesion molecule CD44 splice variants has been reported to be associated with metastasis in certain human malignancies. Protein function: Receptor for hyaluronic acid (HA). Mediates cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions through its affinity for HA, and possibly also through its affinity for other ligands such as osteopontin, collagens, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Adhesion with HA plays an important role in cell migration, tumor growth and progression. In cancer cells, may play an important role in invadopodia formation. Also involved in lymphocyte activation, recirculation and homing, and in hematopoiesis. Altered expression or dysfunction causes numerous pathogenic phenotypes. Great protein heterogeneity due to numerous alternative splicing and post-translational modification events. Receptor for LGALS9, the interaction enhances binding of SMAD3 to the FOXP3 promoter, leading to up-regulation of FOXP3 expression and increased induced regulatory T (iTreg) cell stability and suppressive function. [The UniProt Consortium]