CD235a antibody targets the CD235a antigen, also known as glycophorin A (GYPA), a major sialylated transmembrane protein expressed on the surface of human red blood cells (RBCs). As a member of the glycophorin family, CD235a plays a critical role in maintaining RBC membrane integrity, facilitating cellular adhesion, and regulating mechanical stability. It carries the M/N blood group antigens, making it essential in blood typing and transfusion compatibility studies.
CD235a is widely used as a specific marker for erythroid lineage cells in research and diagnostics. Antibodies against CD235a are employed in flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and immunoassays to identify RBCs, assess erythroid maturation, or detect abnormal RBC populations in conditions like anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), or leukemia. In hematopathology, CD235a antibodies help differentiate erythroleukemia (AML-M6) from other malignancies by confirming erythroblast presence.
Additionally, CD235a antibodies are utilized in studies of malaria pathogenesis, as Plasmodium falciparum parasites invade RBCs via interactions with glycophorin A. In rare disorders like paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), CD235a serves as an internal control in flow cytometry to confirm GPI-anchored protein loss. These antibodies are typically raised in hosts like mice or rabbits, with clones like JC159 and REA175 commonly used in clinical and research settings.