CD56 (NCAM)

Antigen Background

The neural cell adhesion molecules are a family of closely-related cell surface glycoproteins thought to play a role in embryogenesis, development and contact-mediated interactions between neural cells. The CD56 antigen (NCAM) consists of four major isoforms generated by differential splicing of the RNA transcript from a single gene located on chromosome 5. The CD56 antigen is expressed on neurons, astrocytes, Schwann cells, NK cells and a subset of activated T lymphocytes.

Disclaimer

CD56 (NCAM) is recommended for the detection of specific antigens of interest in normal and neoplastic tissues, as an adjunct to conventional histopathology using non-immunologic histochemical stains.