Antigen Background
CD19 is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily and has two Ig like domains. It is a single chain glycoprotein present on the surface of B lymphocytes and follicular dendritic cells of the hematopoietic system. CD19 is a crucial regulator in B cell development, activation and differentiation. On B cells, CD19 associates with CD21, CD81 and CD225 (Leu-13) forming a signal transduction complex. CD19 is expressed from the earliest recognizable B cell lineage stage, through development to B cell differentiation but is lost on maturation to plasma cells.
Disclaimer
CD19 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.