The IM7 antibody reacts with CD44 (Ly-24), an ~80 – 95 kDa type 1 transmembrane glycoprotein involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. CD44 is expressed on the surface of many cells, including leukocytes and hepatocytes, as well as endothelial, epithelial, and mesenchymal cells. Expression levels increase upon activation of T and B cells, and memory cells exhibit a CD44high phenotype. CD44 binds many ligands, including hyaluronic acid, collagen, fibronectin, growth factors, and metalloproteinases, thus modulating processes such as lymphocyte activation, recirculation and homing, leukocyte rolling and aggregation, hematopoiesis, and tumor metastasis. Numerous disorders are associated with altered expression or dysfunction of CD44. Many CD44 isoforms have been identified, with alternative splicing, differential N- and O- glycosylation, and sulfation mediating the functional role(s) played by the protein in a specific cell. The IM7 monoclonal antibody reacts with an extracellular epitope found on all isoforms of CD44 and both murine allotypes.

This antibody clone has been verified for purity assessments of cells isolated with EasySep™ kits, including EasySep™ Mouse CD4+ T Cell Isolation Kit , EasySep™ Mouse CD4+CD62L+ T Cell Isolation Kit (Catalog #18765), and EasySep™ Human Naïve CD4+ T Cell Isolation Kit.