CD79A - General B cell marker

CD-markers (Cluster of Differentiation) are antibodies that recognize cell surface antigens and antibodies detecting specific CD antigens are used in immunohistochemistry, mainly to distinguish different types of immune cells. The CD79A gene encodes for the Ig-alpha protein of the B-cell antigen component as part of the B lymphocyte antigen receptor, a multimeric complex that includes the antigen-specific component, surface immunoglobulin (Ig). CD79A is expressed in a subset of lymphocytes, B cells. CD79A antibodies are used as general B cell markers in diagnostics of lymphoma/leukemia and to characterize various inflammatory cell infiltrates. Alternative general B cell markers are antibodies detecting the CD20 molecule encoded by the MS4A1 gene.