MLANA (Melanoma Antigen Recognized by T Cells 1), also known as MART-1. is a protein predominantly expressed in melanocytes and melanoma cells. It plays a role in melanosome biogenesis and pigmentation, interacting with pathways regulating melanin synthesis. MLANA is a well-established diagnostic marker for melanocytic tumors, widely used in immunohistochemistry to differentiate melanoma from other malignancies.
MLANA antibodies, often monoclonal (e.g., clone A103), detect cytoplasmic and melanosomal localization of the protein. Their high specificity makes them valuable in confirming melanocytic origin in primary cutaneous melanomas and metastatic lesions. However, expression may diminish in advanced or desmoplastic melanomas, necessitating complementary markers (e.g., SOX10. S100) for accuracy.
Beyond diagnostics, MLANA antibodies are used in research to study melanocyte biology, tumor progression, and immune responses. In immunotherapy, MLANA-derived peptides are targets for T-cell receptors in adoptive cell therapies for melanoma. Notably, autoantibodies against MLANA are occasionally detected in vitiligo or melanoma-associated hypopigmentation, reflecting immune cross-reactivity.
Structurally, MLANA is a transmembrane protein encoded by the *MLANA* gene on chromosome 9p24. Its immunogenic epitopes have made it a focus in both cancer biology and autoimmune studies, bridging diagnostic utility and therapeutic exploration.