General Notes
Mouse F4/80 antigen, a ~160 kDa cell surface glycoprotein member of the EGF-TM7 family of proteins which shares 68% overall amino acid identity with human EGF module-containing mucin-like hormone receptor 1 (EMR1).Expression of F4/80 is heterogeneous and is modulated during macrophage maturation and activation. The F4/80 antigen is expressed on a wide range of mature tissue macrophages including Kupffer cells, Langerhans cells, microglia, macrophages located in the gut lamina propria, peritoneal cavity, lung, thymus, bone marrow stroma and macrophages in the red pulp of the spleen (Hume, et al. 1984). F4/80 antigen is also expressed on a subpopulation of dendritic cells but is absent from macrophages located in T cell areas of the spleen and lymph node (Gordon, et al. 1994). The ligands and biological functions of the F4/80 antigen have not been fully determined but a role for F4/80 in the generation of efferent CD8+ve regulatory T cells is proposed (Lin, et al. 2005) Rat anti mouse F4/80 antibody, clone Cl:A3-1 modulates cytokine levels released in response to Listeria monocytogenes. A Human anti-idiotypic CI:A31 antibody, clone 17867 (HCA154 ) which binds to and blocks activity of Rat anti mouse F4/80 antibody, clone Cl:A3-1 is also available for use as a control in experiments utilizing clone A3-1.