Description
Product Characteristics: CD146, also known as MCAM (melanoma cell adhesion molecule) or MUC18, is a heavily glycosylated transmembrane glycoprotein with more than 50 % of the mass from carbohydrates. It is expressed on epithelial and endothelial cells, fibroblasts, multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells, activated T cells and activated keratinocytes, and on some cancer cells, especially melanoma. The presence of CD146 on circulating blood cells has been confined to the activated T cells rather than circulating endothelial cells. CD146 mediates heterophilic cell adhesion and regulates monocyte transendothelial migration.
Target Information: 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