Alexa Fluor^® 700 Mouse Anti-Human CD146 Antibody (S-3679)

CD146, also known as melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM), is a 113-kDa, heavily glycosylated type-I transmembrane glycoprotein of the immunoglobulin superfamily that consists of five Ig-like domains (V-V-C2-C2-C2), a single transmembrane segment and a cytoplasmic tail existing in a long and a short splice isoform; initially identified on melanoma cells, it now is recognized as a multifunctional adhesion and signaling receptor widely expressed on endothelial cells, pericytes, smooth muscle, activated T cells and various stem cells that, through homophilic interactions and ligands such as laminin-411, Wnt5a and galectin-1, orchestrates angiogenesis, vascular integrity, cell migration, immune-cell trafficking and epithelial–mesenchymal transition, while its overexpression and elevated glycosylation in melanoma, renal, prostate, lung, pancreatic and other cancers correlate with tumor progression, metastasis and poor prognosis, and its soluble ectodomain (sCD146) released by metalloprotease shedding functions as a circulating biomarker, making CD146 a valuable diagnostic and therapeutic target in oncology and inflammatory diseases.