CD9 belongs to proteins of tetraspanin family that orchestrate cholesterol-associated tetraspanin-enriched signaling microdomains within the plasma membrane, forming complexes with each other as well as with integrins, membrane-anchored growth factors and other proteins. CD9 is involved in cell motility, osteoclastogenesis, neurite outgrowth, myotube formation, and sperm-egg fusion, plays roles in cell attachment and proliferation and is necessary for association of heterologous MHC II molecules on the dendritic cell plasma membrane which is important for effective T cell stimulation. CD9 is also considered as metastasis suppressor in solid tumors.
