Macrosialin (murine equivalent of CD68) is a pan-macrophage late endosomal glycoprotein also expressed by some myeloid-derived dendritic cells.
It is related to the lysosomal associated meosteoclastsmbrane protein (Lamp) family but is more restricted to macrophages by virtue of an extracellular mucin-domain. It is heavily glycosylated (O- and N-linked structures) and glycoforms are markedly remodelled by phagocytic and inflammatory stimuli. Macrosialin binds oxidised lipoprotein. A promoter plus intron derived from human CD8 provides a promising DNA construct for macrophage-specific gene targeting.
For further details on macrosialin contact siamon.gordon@path.ox.ac.uk and on gene targeting via CD68 contact David.Greaves@path.ox.ac.uk