CD24 Polyclonal antibody

CD24 is a cell surface signal transducing molecule, which is also known as a cluster of differentiation 24 or heat stable antigen CD24 (HSA) (PMID: 7959762). It is a sialoglycoprotein that is anchored to the plasma membrane via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) link. Due to its cell surface localization, it contributes to a wide range of downstream signaling networks and has been shown to play crucial roles during neural development (PMID: 27993646) and the differentiation of various cell types. For example, it promotes antigen-dependent proliferation of B-cells, while preventing their terminal differentiation into antibody-producing cells (PMID: 11313396). CD24 may also play a role in apoptosis regulation, as cross-linking of this protein on the surface of neutrophils induces cell death, which seems to be defective in sepsis (PMID: 24501201). In addition, CD24 has been linked to negative regulation of the immune responses, particularly to danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) (PMID: 24996822). 

What is the molecular weight of CD24?

According to NCBI, there are two known isoforms of CD24; the shorter 80 aa (8 kDa) isoform 1, which is considered a canonical sequence that has been experimentally validated, and a longer 120 aa (12,9 kDa) protein (PMIDs: 16344560, 15489334). Isoform 1 is further processed into a mature 32 aa form. Apart from these, 3 potential computationally mapped isoforms have been suggested. The CD24 gene locus is localized on chromosome 6, while other non-transcribed loci have been found on chromosomes 1, 15, 20, and Y (PMID: 7959762). 

What is the subcellular localization of CD24?

It is a cell surface protein that can act as an adhesion molecule. 

What is the tissue specificity of CD24?

As a rule, CD24 tends to be expressed at higher levels in progenitor cells and metabolically active cells and to a lesser extent in terminally differentiated cells (PMID: 25613900). CD24 is specifically expressed in a number of B-cell lines, granulocytes, and differentiating neuroblasts (PMID: 8753773, 12447971). The expression is lost when primary B-cells are induced to differentiate in antibody-forming cells. CD24 expression has also been linked with various malignancies: epithelial neoplasms (PMID:16164042), erythroleukemia cell and small cell lung carcinoma cell lines. For certain cancers it is considered a prognostic marker, usually associated with poor patient prognosis, e.g., colorectal cancer (PMID: 16166435) and ovarian cancer (PMID: 2368195). 

What is the involvement of CD24 in disease?

As mentioned before it is considered a prognostic marker in various malignancies. However, it is also clearly associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Indeed, a single nucleotide polymorphism V57A has been associated with an over 2-fold increase in the susceptibility to MS and has been generally linked to a quicker progression of the disease in the general population (PMID: 14657362). 

What are the main roles of CD24?

Considering its expression patterns, it is clear why CD24 plays the most important roles in immune cells. It can be used as a marker for the differentiation of hematopoietic and neuronal cells, in addition to tissue and tumor stem cells (PMID: 12447971). CD24 has also been found to mediate apoptosis in precursor-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines in the pro-B and pre-B stages accompanying activation of multiple caspases (PMID: 12496407). It has also been shown to play a role in autoimmune responses, as CD24-deficient mice are resistant to autoimmune encephalomyelitis (PMID: 10791997).