Anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule antibodies are used for the immunodetection of the protein encoded by the EPCAM gene. In humans, the canonical protein has a reported length of 314 amino acid residues and a mass of 34.9 kDa. Its subcellular localization is in the cell membrane. A member of the EPCAM protein family, it is believed to act as a physical homophilic interaction molecule between intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) at the mucosal epithelium for providing immunological barrier as a first line of defense against mucosal infection.
The epithelial cell adhesion molecule marker can be used to characterize Early Erythroid Cells, Airway Submucosal Gland Ciliated Duct Cells, Airway Submucosal Gland Duct Basal Cells, Airway Submucosal Gland Collecting Duct Epithelial Cells, and Bronchus Submucosal Gland Myoepithelial Cells Serous Secreting Cells.* Other names for this target antigen include BerEp4, DIAR5, EGP-2, EGP314, EGP40, ESA, HNPCC8, and Ber-Ep4. Gene orthologs have been identified in the mouse, rat, bovine, frog, zebrafish, chimpanzee and chicken species. Over 3600 citations in the literature describe the use of epithelial cell adhesion molecule antibodies in research. Flow Cytometry, Western Blot, Immunofluorescence, and Immunohistochemistry are common applications for these antibodies.
*HuBMAP Human Reference Atlas v1.4