CD68 Monoclonal Antibody (KP1), Alexa Fluor™ Plus 488

Product Specific Information

Description: The KP1 antibody reacts with human CD68 which belongs to the sialomucin family and is closely related to the family of lysosomal-associated membrane proteins (lamps) and scavenger receptor. CD68 is predominantly an intracellular protein, found mainly in the late endosomal compartment but can be detected in smaller amounts on the surface of mainly myeloid-derived cells; monocytes and macrophages, dendritic cells (and in some langerhan cells), neutrophils, basophils, mast cells, myeloid progenitor cells, and a subset of CD34+ hematopoietic bone marrow progenitor cells. The function has not been fully elucidated but based on homology and structure, CD68 may play a role in antigen processing or presentation and protection of the lysosomal membrane from hydrolytic enzymes. Reports have also shown expression in activated T cells, and about 40% of peripheral blood B-lymphocytes and 50% of all B-ALL. The KP1 antibody has also been reported to stain fibroblasts which may be due to a conserved epitope rather than fibroblasts expressing CD68.

Applications Reported: This KP1 antibody has been reported for use in flow cytometric analysis, immunoprecipitation, western blotting, immunohistochemical staining of frozen tissue sections, and immunohistochemical staining of formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue sections.

Applications Tested: This KP1 antibody has been tested by immunohistochemistry of formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue using high pH antigen retrieval and can be used at 8 µg/mL. It is recommended that the antibody be carefully titrated for optimal performance in the assay of interest.

Using conjugate solutions: Centrifuge the protein conjugate solution briefly in a microcentrifuge before use; add only the supernatant to the experiment. This step will help eliminate any protein aggregates that may have formed during storage, thereby reducing nonspecific background staining.

Target Information

CD68 (Macrosialin) is a 110 kDa integral membrane glycoprotein predominantly expressed on the intracellular lysomsomes of monocytes and macrophages and to a lesser extent by dendritic cells and peripheral blood granulocytes. Also, CD68 could play a role in phagocytic activities of tissue macrophages, both in intracellular lysosomal metabolism and extracellular cell-cell and cell-pathogen interactions. CD68 is expressed by interdigitating reticulum cells in tonsil and some histiocytic lymphoma or histiocytosis, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and granulocytic sarcoma. Elevated expression of CD68 has been demonstrated on CD34+ cells in various human malignancies, including several Acute Myeloid Leukemia studies.