Clone MT2 has previously been described as CD45RA but due to its reactivity with transfectants and its identical staining pattern with ORTH75E4 it is now recognized as CD45RC [7]. Clone MT2 reacts with peripheral blood B cells and is used for the differential diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. It also reacts with T suppressor/cytotoxic cells and NK cells. Their functional activity may be related to the induction of suppressor or cytotoxic activity, and activation processes.
CD45 is also known as the Leukocyte Common Antigen (LCA) or T200 antigen, and is comprised of different glycoproteins ranging from 180-240 kD. Expression of CD45 is found on all hemopoietic cells, e.g. granulocytes, monocytes, macrophages and lymphocytes, except mature erythroid cells. Detection of the different isoforms can distinguish, for example, between naive T cells and memory T cells, which is of interest in patients with immunodeficiency and autoimmune diseases.