The BM8 antibody reacts with the F4/80 antigen (also termed Ly-71 in mouse and EMR-1 in human), an ~160 kDa transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the EGF-TM7 family of G-protein-coupled receptors. F4/80 is considered a marker of choice for the identification of mature tissue macrophages, being broadly but variably expressed by this cell type in the liver (Kupffer cells), skin (Langerhans cells), bone marrow stroma, pancreas, thymus, spleen (red pulp), lung, and other tissues. It is also expressed by circulating monocytes, eosinophils and a subset of dendritic cells. F4/80 expression levels increase following activation of macrophages. F4/80 is reportedly the only macrophage marker suitable for distinguishing destructive from non-destructive inflammatory processes in the pancreas. The protein is thought to play a role in the generation of CD8+ regulatory T cells involved in immune tolerance.

This antibody clone has been verified for purity assessments of cells isolated with EasySep™ kits, including EasySep™ Mouse Monocyte Enrichment Kit  and EasySep™ Mouse CD11b Positive Selection Kit.