CD52

CD52 is a remarkably small GPI-anchored antigen consisting of a 12-amino-acid peptide carrying a large N-linked carbohydrate, encoded by the CD52 gene. It is abundant on virtually all mature lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, dendritic cells and the male reproductive tract epithelium, with particularly high density on T and B lymphocytes. Its physiological function remains incompletely defined but is thought to involve membrane organization and regulation of complement activation on lymphocytes. The monoclonal antibody alemtuzumab targets CD52 and is used to treat B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, making CD52 a clinically validated depletion target.