CD2 which is also known as E-rosette receptor, T11 and lymphocyte-function antigen-2 (LFA-2) is expressed on T cells, thymocytes, and subset of natural killer cells.
Human CD2 functions as the receptor for sheep erythrocytes, human CD58 (LFA-3), and CD15s (Sialyl Lewis X).
p56lck, p59fyn, CD3eta and CD3epsilon are tyrosine-phosphorylated after CD2 stimulation.
CD2 plays a role in T cell activation, T- or NK-cell-mediated cytolysis, apoptosis in activated peripheral T cells, and regulation of T cell anergy.
Normal B lymphocytes, monocytes or granulocytes do not express surface CD2 antigen, neither do common ALL cells.
The antigen has been characterized as the receptor for sheep erythrocytes and CD2 monoclonal antibodies that inhibit E rosette formation.
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 triggerring of T cells, the cytoplasmic domain is implicated in the signaling function.
It is useful for the identification of lymphomas and leukemias of T cell origin.