CD166 antigen is a 100-105 kD typeI transmembrane glycoprotein that is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of proteins. In humans it is encoded by the ALCAM gene.[5][6] It is also called CD166 (cluster of differentiation 166), MEMD,[7] SC-1/DM-GRASP/BEN in the chicken, and KG-CAM in the rat.
ALCAM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Aliases | ALCAM, CD166, MEMD, activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
External IDs | OMIM: 601662 MGI: 1313266 HomoloGene: 1229 GeneCards: ALCAM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Wikidata | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Some literature sources have also cited it as the CD6 ligand (CD6L). It is expressed on activated T cells, activated monocytes, epithelial cells, fibroblasts, neurons, melanoma cells, and also in sweat and sebaceous glands.[citation needed] CD166 protein expression is reported to be upregulated in a cell line deriving from a metastasizing melanoma.[7] CD166 plays an important role in mediating adhesion interactions between thymic epithelial cells and CD6+ cells during intrathymic T cell development.[citation needed]
Recently, CD166 has also been used as a potential cancer stem cell marker.[citation needed]