Description
This antibody recognizes a protein of 205kDa-220kDa, identified as CD45RA, an isoform of the human leukocyte common antigen (CD45). Human CD45 contains three exons which encode peptide segments designated A, B and C. The differential splicing of the exons generates at least five isoforms, ABC, AB, BC, B and O. This antibody reacts with ABC and BC isoforms. CD45RA is expressed on 40-50% of peripheral CD4+ Tcells, 50% of peripheral CD8+ T-cells, B-cells, and leukemic B-cell lines. T-cells expressing CD45RA are naive or virgin Tcells. T-cells expressing CD45RO are memory Tcells. CD45RA and CD45RO define complementary, predominantly non-overlapping populations of resting peripheral Tcells. This CD45RA antibody is useful in the study of the subpopulation of CD4+ or CD8+ T-cells. It is especially useful in differentiating T-cell lymphomas (CD45RO +ve) from B cell lymphomas (CD45RA +ve)