CD68

Anti-CD68-antibodies detect a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 110 kD, localized in the cytoplasm, often with relation to lysosomes. Positive staining is seen in different types of macrophages of monocyte lineage and antibodies also reacts with myeloid precursor cells in the bone marrow. Positivity is seen in Kupffer cells and histiocytes in normal lymphoid tissue, but also mast cells and microglia. Thus, there are reasons to believe that the antigen may be expressed in a wider range of cells than cells of pure myeloid/monocytic/histiocytic origin and differentiation.

Fibrous-histiocytic tumours such as juvenile xanthogranuloma and Langerhans cell histiocytosis, subtypes of myeloid leukaemia (depending on the Ab used), some epithelial neoplasms, epithelioid cells of some malignant melanomas.

Anti-CD68-antibodies are of value for the diagnosis of fibrous-histiocytic tumours, histiocytosis and other conditions with an abundance of histiocytes. Immunohistochemical detection of CD68-positivity may also be of some importance in the diagnosis of glial changes and proliferations, malignant melanoma and myeloid leukaemia. As regards the latter, CD68 (clone PG-M1) may be applicable in identifying a monocytic differentiation in a pattern corresponding that of CD14.

Brain and tonsil are recommended as control. In the brain, the microglial cells must show an as strong as possible cytoplasmic staining, while the background must be negative. In the tonsil the interfollicular macrophages must show a moderate to strong cytoplasmic staining, while the germinal centre B-cells should be negative.

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