CD52 is present on the surface of maturelymphocytes, but not on thestem cells from which these lymphocytes were derived. It also is found onmonocytes[3] anddendritic cells.[4] Further, it is found within the male genital tract and is present on the surface of maturesperm cells.
CD52 is apeptide of 12 amino acids, anchored toglycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI). Since it is highly negatively charged and present on sperm cells and lymphocytes, it has been conjectured that its function is anti-adhesion, allowing cells to freely move around.[5]
It is associated with certain types oflymphoma.[6]
It is the protein targeted byalemtuzumab, amonoclonal antibody used for the treatment ofchronic lymphocytic leukemia andorgan transplantation. A phase III trial into treatment of relapsing-remittingmultiple sclerosis showed a reduction in relapse rate, but no statistically significant reduction in accumulated disability, when used as a first-line therapy.[7] However, a sister study looking at patients in whom relapses had occurred despite treatment withinterferon beta orglatiramer demonstrated reduction in both relapse rate and accumulated disability. 20% patients randomised to interferon beta 1a had "sustained accumulation of disability" compared with 13% in the alemtuzumab group.[8]
^Coles AJ, Twyman CL, Arnold DL, Cohen JA, Confavreux C, Fox EJ, Hartung HP, Havrdova E, Selmaj KW, Weiner HL, Miller T, Fisher E, Sandbrink R, Lake SL, Margolin DH, Oyuela P, Panzara MA, Compston DA (November 2012). "Alemtuzumab for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis after disease-modifying therapy: a randomised controlled phase 3 trial".Lancet.380 (9856):1829–39.doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61768-1.hdl:2078.1/124398.PMID23122650.S2CID5736696.[unreliable medical source?]
