CD7 (EP132), RMab

Summary and Explanation

CD7 is a 40 kDa transmembrane, single-chain glycoprotein, which is a member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily. It is expressed in the majority of immature and mature T-lymphocytes, and T-cell Leukemia. It is also found in natural killer cells, a small subpopulation of normal B-cells and in malignant B-cells. It plays an essential role in T-cell interactions and also in T-cell/B-cell interaction during early lymphoid development.

CD7 antibody is a consistently-expressed T-cell antigen in Lymphoblastic Lymphomas and Leukemias; therefore, it is a useful marker in the identification of such neoplastic proliferations. CD7 is expressed in the majority of mature peripheral T-cells, the majority of post-thymic T-cells, NK cells, some myeloid cells, T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma, Acute Myelogenous Leukemia and Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. Interestingly, CD7 antibody expression is conspicuously absent in adult T-cell Leukemia/Lymphoma and is not expressed in Sezary cells.