Anti-Human CD90 (Thy-1) - Purified

CD90 is a 28-30 kD GPI-linked membrane glycoprotein and is part of the Ig superfamily. It interacts with CD45 in signal transduction. CD90 mediates adhesion of thymocytes to thymic stroma. It has been reported that CD90 binds with β2 and β3 integrins and is involved in the inhibition of hematopoietic stem cells proliferation and differentiation, as well as the regulation of cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth. It can be used as a marker for various stem cells, such as hematopoietic stem cells, and for the axonal processes of mature neurons. For use in FACS, CD90 is a popular surface marker for stem cells in combination with other markers such as CD34. There are two alleles for CD90 in mice that differ by one amino acid. The difference being that CD90.1 (Thy1.1) has an arginine and CD90.2 (Thy1.2) has a glutamine at position 108. CD90.2 is more prevalent and is expressed in most mice strains. CD90.1 is only expressed by a select few mice strains including AKR/J and PL strains. CD90.2 is a 25-35 kD GPI-anchored membrane glycoprotein. Like CD90, it is also in the Ig superfamily, interacts with CD45, and has involvement in signal transduction. The function of CD90.2 is thought to play roles in cognition, axon growth, T lymphocyte function, and apoptosis. CD90 acts as tumor suppressor for some tumors due to its action in upregulating thrombospondin, SPARC (osteonectin), and fibronectin. On the other hand, it has been suspected to aid in the spread of circulating melanoma cells. Regarding prostate cancer, CD90 has therapeutic potential for specific drug targeting due to its expression in cancer associated stroma, but not in normal stroma.