protein_function: Cell adhesion molecule that binds to CD6. Involved inneurite extension by neurons via heterophilic and homophilicinteractions. May play a role in the binding of T- and B-cells toactivated leukocytes, as well as in interactions between cells ofthe nervous system.
CD166 antigen is a 100-105 kD typeI transmembrane glycoprotein that is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of proteins. In humans it is encoded by the ALCAM gene. The gene was mapped to human chromosome 3q13.1-q13.2 by fluorescence in situ hybridization of cDNA probes to metaphase chromosomes. It is also called CD166(cluster of differentiation 166), MEMD, SC-1,DM-GRASP,BEN in the chicken, and KG-CAM in the rat. It is expressed on activated T cells, activated monocytes, epithelial cells, fibroblasts, neurons, melanoma cells, and also in sweat and sebaceous glands. CD166 protein expression is reported to be upregulated in a cell line deriving from a metastasizing melanoma. CD166 plays an important role in mediating adhesion interactions between thymic epithelial cells and CD6+ cells during intrathymic T cell development. Recently, CD166 has also been used as a potential cancer stem cell marker.