CD117 (c-kit) Antibodies

The CD117 antigen, also known as Stem Cell Factor Receptor (SCFR), mast-cell-Kit, and steel factor receptor, is a 145 kDa transmembrane glycoprotein encoded by the ckit protooncogene. The CD117 molecule belongs to the class III Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) family. Within the haematopoeitic compartment, the CD117 molecule is expressed on approximately 50% of CD34+ progenitors engaged in erythrocytic, myelo-monocytic and megakaryocytic differentiation. Although CD117 is primarily a marker for non-lymphoid progenitors, it has been reported to be detected on early lymphoid progenitors. CD117 expression has been found on a small subset of resting NK cells (CD56bright), and about 30% of immature CD3- CD4- CD8- thymocytes. CD117 is also expressed on mast cells and detected on non-hematopoietic cells such as reproductive system, melanocytes and embryonic brain cells.