背景资料:The 145-2C11 monoclonal antibody reacts with mouse CD3e, the 20 kDa epsilon chain of the TCR complex. Together with the gamma and delta subunits of CD3, the epsilon subunits are involved in the assembly, trafficking, and surface expression of T-cell receptor complex. CD3 is expressed on thymocytes, mature T cells, and natural killer T cells, and the epsilon chain enhances the antigen recognition.The 145-2C11 antibody binds to the TCR complex and, depending on the conditions, initiates T cells activation, proliferation, and apoptosis. The soluble antibody seems to block lysis of target cells by antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The 145-2C11 antibody does not cross-react with the rat leukocytes, and it is used as a phenotypic marker for mouse T lymphocytes.