Spécificité
This antibody recognizes a single chain, transmembrane, heavily glycosylated protein of 90-120kDa, which is identified as CD34. Its expression is a hallmark for identifying pluripotent hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells. Its expression is gradually lost as lineage committed progenitors differentiate. CD34 is a marker of choice for staining blasts in acute myeloid leukemia. In addition, CD34 is expressed by soft tissue tumors, such as solitary fibrous tumor and gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Its expression is also found in vascular endothelium. Additionally, it appears that proliferating endothelial cells express this molecule more than the non-proliferating endothelial cells. Anti-CD34 labels 85% of angiosarcoma and Kaposis sarcoma, but with a lower specificity.