Invitrogen™ CD103 Monoclonal Antibody (LF61)

Description

The epitope recognized by this antibody is reported to be sensitive to formaldehyde fixation and tissue processing. We recommend the use of acetone fixation for frozen sections. For FACS analysis, use 10 μL of the suggested working dilution to label 1x10^6 cells in 100 μL.

CD103, also known as ITGAE or Integrin alpha E, is a molecule that non-covalently associates with integrin beta 7 to form a heterodimeric integral membrane protein. This protein is part of the integrin family, characterized by an alpha chain and a beta chain. Specifically, CD103 includes a 150 kDa alpha chain and a 120 kDa beta chain, with the alpha integrin undergoing post-translational cleavage in the extracellular domain to yield disulfide-linked heavy and light chains. CD103 is primarily expressed on mucosa-associated T lymphocytes, intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs), and activated cells, as well as a subset of TGF beta-1 cells. It is preferentially found in human intestinal IELs, where it plays a role in adhesion and may serve as an accessory molecule for IEL activation. CD103 binds to epithelial cell antigen E-cadherin, mediating the homing of lymphocytes to the intestinal epithelium. In peripheral blood and lymphoid organs, CD103 is expressed by 0.5 to 2% of resting lymphocytes, and its expression can be upregulated in vitro by stimulating human T cells with mitogens. CD103 is also expressed by hairy cell leukemia (HCL) and some chronic B cell lymphocytic leukemias. The CD103 antibody stains a few bone marrow cells and, rarely, peripheral blood lymphocytes. Diseases associated with CD103 dysfunction include hairy cell leukemia and splenic marginal zone lymphoma.