Definition
The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), also known as CD56, is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily engaged in both so-called homophilic and heterophilic interactions.
Features
CD56 is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily; three main isoforms exist (NCAM-120, NCAM-140, and NCAM-180), all generated by alternative splicing from one single gene, differing in their intracellular domain length. CD56 is often considered a marker of neural lineage commitment due to its discovery site. However, CD56 expression is also found in the hematopoietic system. Here, the expression of CD56 is most stringently associated with, but certainly not limited to, natural killer (NK) cells. CD56 has been detected on other lymphoid cells, including gamma delta (γδ) T cells and activated CD8+ T cells, as well as on dendritic cells (DCs). Also, in the bone marrow, at the site where hematopoiesis...
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References and Further Reading
Bryson, G. J., Lear, D., Williamson, R., & Wong, R. C. (2002). Detection of the CD56+/CD45− immunophenotype by flow cytometry in neuroendocrine malignancies. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 55, 535–537.
Harrington, A. M., Hari, P., & Kroft, S. H. (2009). Utility of CD56 immunohistochemical studies in follow-up of plasma cell myeloma. American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 132, 60–66.
He, H., Luthringer, D. J., Hui, P., Lau, S. K., Weiss, L. M., & Chu, P. G. (2008). Expression of CD56 and WT1 in ovarian stroma and ovarian stromal tumors. American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 32, 884–890.
Jafarian, A. H., Gharib, M., Mohammadian, R. N., Sherafatnia, S., Omidi, A. A., & Bagheri, S. (2017). The diagnostic value of TTF-1, P63, HMWK, CK7, and CD56 immunostaining in the classification of lung carcinoma. Iranian Journal of Pathology, 12, 195–201.
Pan, Y., Wang, H., Tao, Q., Zhang, C., Yang, D., Qin, H., Xiong, S., Tao, L., Wu, F., Zhang, J., & Zhai, Z. (2016). Absence of both CD56 and CD117 expression on malignant plasma cells is related with a poor prognosis in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Leukemia Research, 40, 77–82.
Rekhtman, N., Baine, M. K., & Bishop, J. A. (2019). Quick reference handbook for surgical pathologists (2nd ed.). Springer.
Uccella, S., La Rosa, S., Volante, M., & Papotti, M. (2018). Immunohistochemical biomarkers of gastrointestinal, pancreatic, pulmonary, and thymic neuroendocrine neoplasms. Endocrine Pathology, 29, 150–168.
Van Acker, H. H., Capsomidis, A., Smits, E. L., & Van Tendeloo, V. F. (2017). CD56 in the immune system: More than a marker for cytotoxicity? Frontiers in Immunology, 8, 892.
Xu, S., Li, X., Zhang, J., & Chen, J. (2015). Prognostic value of CD56 in patients with acute myeloid leukemia: A meta-analysis. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, 141, 1859–1870.
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Pettenon, F., Uccella, S. (2021). CD56. In: van Krieken, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Pathology. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_5302-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_5302-1
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