Reactivity
Human
(tested or 100% immunogen sequence identity)
Immunogen
HRIK cells - Human B-Lymphoblastoid line.
Specificity
Recognizes a glycoprotein antigen of 105kD expressed by B lymphocytes. The FMC7 antigen is expressed by peripheral B lymphocytes, and has been used widely in the study of B cell malignancy. FMC7 has been used extensively to differentiate various types of B cell malignancy. B-CLL is generally considered to be negative for FMC7 expression, but strong staining is seen in many other types of B cell lymphoma, including prolymphocytic leukemia and hairy cell leukemia. The nature of the FMC7 antigen has remained poorly defined following its first description in 1981. The expression pattern closely corresponds to that seen with CD22, but studies have shown that FMC7 does not recognize the CD22 molecule itself. A recent publication by Serke et al has shown Recognizes a conformational epitope on the CD20 molecule, most likely a multimeric complex of CD20.