CD11a Monoclonal Antibody (M17/4), FITC, Invitrogen™

Description

• CD11a (LFA-1 alpha, ITGAL) together with CD18 constitute leukocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1), the alphaLbeta2 integrin
• CD11a is implicated in activation of LFA-1 complex
• CD11a plays a central role in leukocyte intercellular adhesion through interactions with its ligands, ICAMs 1-3 (intercellular adhesion molecules 1 through 3), and also functions in lymphocyte costimulatory signaling
• CD11a is expressed on the plasma membrane of leukocytes in a low-affinity conformation
• Cell stimulation by chemokines or other signals leads to induction the high-affinity conformation, which supports tight binding of CD11a to its ligands, the intercellular adhesion molecules ICAM-1, -2, -3
• CD11a is thus involved in interaction of various immune cells and in their tissue-specific settlement, but participates also in control of cell differentiation and proliferation and of T-cell effector functions
• Blocking of CD11a function by specific antibodies or small molecules has become an important therapeutic approach in treatment of multiple inflammatory diseases
• For example, humanized anti- CD11a antibody Efalizumab (Raptiva) is being used to interfere with T cell migration to sites of inflammation, binding of cholesterol-lowering drug simvastatin to CD11a allosteric site leads to immunomodulation and increase in lymphocytic cholinergic activity
• Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms of CD11a have been found
• Diseases associated with CD11a dysfunction include benign cephalic histiocytosis and leukocyte adhesion deficiency.