Alexa Fluor^® 488 Rat Anti-Mouse Thy1 (CD90) Antibody (S-4038)

Thy1 (also known as CD90) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored glycoprotein widely expressed on the surface of various cell types and belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily; it was originally named after its discovery in mouse thymocytes. As a critical marker for stem cells and specific differentiated cells, Thy1 is highly expressed on hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), neurons, fibroblasts, and activated T cells, with its functions varying significantly depending on the cell type: in the nervous system, it participates in axon growth, synaptic plasticity, and neural repair; in the immune system, it regulates T cell activation, adhesion, and migration; and in stem cell research, it serves as a key surface antigen for identifying and isolating MSCs (typically characterized as CD90-positive). Although its precise downstream signaling mechanisms remain not fully understood due to the lack of a transmembrane domain, Thy1 is generally believed to mediate cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion by interacting with extracellular matrix components or other membrane proteins, thereby influencing cell proliferation, differentiation, and tissue homeostasis, making it a vital target in regenerative medicine, neurobiology, and oncology.