T-cell surface antigen CD2, CD 2, CD2 antigen, CD2 molecule, LFA2, LFA3 receptor, Lymphocyte function antigen 2, p50, Rosette receptor, Sheep erythrocyte receptor, Sheep red blood cell receptor, SRBC, T cell surface antigen CD2, T cell surface antigen T11/Leu 5, T11, CD2_HUMAN.
CD2 is a surface antigen of the human T lymphocyte lineage that is expressed on all peripheral blood T cells. It is one of the earliest T cell markers, being present on more than 95% of thymocytes, it is also found on some natural killer cells but not on B lymphocytes. CD2 interacts with lymphocyte function associated antigen (LFA3) and CD48/BCM1 to mediate adhesion between T cells and other cell types. CD2 is implicated in the triggering of T cells, the cytoplasmic domain is implicated in the signaling function. It is useful for the identification of lymphomas and leukaemias of T cell origin.
