Alexa Fluor® 488 Armenian hamster Anti-Mouse CD48 Antibody (HM48-1)

CD48, also known as B-lymphocyte activation marker BLAST-1 or homolog of mouse Lyb-2 (HML-2), is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored cell surface glycoprotein belonging to the CD2 subfamily of the immunoglobulin superfamily, which lacks transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains and is broadly expressed on all hematopoietic cells except erythrocytes and plasma cells. Functioning as a critical co-stimulatory molecule in the immune system, CD48 serves as a high-affinity ligand for several receptors, most notably CD2 and 2B4 (SLAMF4) on natural killer (NK) cells and T cells, thereby facilitating essential cell-to-cell adhesion and bidirectional signaling pathways that regulate lymphocyte activation, proliferation, cytokine production, and cytotoxicity. By modulating these interactions, CD48 plays a pivotal role in both innate and adaptive immune responses, including the formation of the immunological synapse, while its dysregulation or overexpression has been implicated in various pathological conditions such as autoimmune diseases, allergic reactions, and certain hematologic malignancies, making it a significant target for therapeutic intervention and immunological research.