FITC Rat Anti-Mouse/Human CD49f Antibody (GoH3)

CD49f, also known as integrin α6, is a cell surface protein encoded by the ITGA6 gene. It is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the α-subfamily of integrins and can form heterodimers with β1 or β4 subunits to function as α6β1 or α6β4 integrins. CD49f is widely expressed in various cell types, including epithelial cells, T cells, monocytes, and platelets, and plays a crucial role in cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. It is also involved in the regulation of cell stemness, particularly in cancer biology, where it marks tumor-initiating cells with high plasticity and immune evasion capabilities. For example, in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), CD49f-high tumor cells can recruit neutrophils to create an immunosuppressive microenvironment, contributing to tumor progression and resistance to immune attack.