Invitrogen™ CD7 Polyclonal Antibody

CD7, also known as gp40 or Leu9, is a 40 kDa receptor and member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily. It features an N-terminal region (amino acids 1-107) that is highly homologous to Ig kappa light chains, while its carboxyl-terminal region is proline-rich, forming a stalk from which the Ig domain projects. CD7 is prominently expressed on the majority of immature and mature T lymphocytes, as well as T cell leukemias. It is also found on natural killer cells, a small subpopulation of normal B cells, and malignant B cells. CD7 plays a crucial role in modulating immune cell activity. Cross-linking of surface CD7 enhances T cell and NK cell functions, as evidenced by increased calcium flux, expression of adhesion molecules, cytokine secretion, and proliferation. CD7 directly associates with phosphoinositol 3-kinase, and its ligation induces the production of D-3 phosphoinositides and tyrosine phosphorylation. The expression of CD7 is an important marker in leukemia diagnostics, highlighting its significance in both normal immune function and disease states.