NGFR (BSB-18), MMab

Intended Use

For In Vitro Diagnostic Use

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NGFR (Nerve Growth Factor Receptor), also termed p75 or CD271, is the low-affinity NGFR (LNGFR) which binds NGF and other neurotrophins, including BDNF, NT3 and NT4/5 with similar low-affinity. NGFR p75 is a 75 kD transmembrane glycoprotein that is mainly expressed in Schwann cells and neurons and in a variety of non-neuronal cells. NGFR p75 is necessary for regulating neuronal growth, migration, differentiation and cell death during development of the central and peripheral nervous system. NGFR p75 plays a central role in the regulation of cell number by apoptosis in the developing CNS. During early development, activation of NGFR p75 by NGF induces apoptotic cell death in some neuronal cells, probably through activation of the sphingomyelinase/ceramide pathway, the ICE-like proteases and the JNK pathway. CD271 has recently been described as being expressed in mesenchymal stem cells (bone marrow stromal cells).

NGFR antibody is expressed not only in sympathetic and sensory neurons, but also in various neural crest cell or tumor derivatives such as melanocytes, Melanomas, Neuroblastomas, Pheochromocytomas, Neurofibromas, and neurotized nevi (Type C melanocytes). It is now apparent that expression of NGFR is ubiquitous and not limited to the nervous system. Studies in Prostate and Urothelial Cancer suggest that NGFR may act as a tumor suppressor, negatively regulating cell growth and proliferation. NGFR labels the myoepithelial cells of breast ducts and intralobular fibroblasts of breast ducts and, thus, aids in the diagnosis of malignancy in the breast.