CD Markers, Antibody List

CD3

CD3 is the most common T-cell marker used.  It is considered a “pan T-cell marker”, and shows excellent specificity.  It also marks NK cells (CD3 epsilon cytoplasmic 56%), mast cells, variable thymic B-cells (50%), and Langerhans cells.  80% of T-cell lymphomas, NK lymphoma (cytoplasmic, not membraneous), lymphomatous papulosis, and pre-T ALL mark with CD3.
 

CD3 expression is first found in pro-thymocytes (peri-nuclear), which develops into cytoplasm expression, and finally is expressed on the cell membrane with absence of cytoplasmic staining.  This expression pattern parallels T-cell development from pro-thymocytes to common thymocytes and finally into medullary thymocytes.

Negative Staining
  • Most B-cell lymphomas
  • Aberrant loss of CD3 may be seen in some cases of mycosis fungoides (MF)
  • Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), and AILT.  In fact, CD3 is the least sensitive T-cell marker for ALCL.
CD3 Expression
  • Pan T-cell Marker
  • NK cells (cytoplasmic)
  • T-cell Lymphomas
  • NK/T-cell Lymphoma (nasal type), variable expression
  • T-ALL (subset)
Clinical Significance
Interestingly, muromonab (OKT3®) CD3 is a monoclonal drug, which targets and blocks the function of the CD3 receptor.  It is used in the treatment of acute allograft rejection in renal transplants.
Photomicrographs
CD3 - Benign Tonsil
CD3 – Benign Tonsil
CD3 - Benign Tonsil
CD3 – Benign Tonsil
CD3 - Benign Tonsil
CD3 – Benign Tonsil
References
Kuby, Janis; Kindt, Thomas J.; Goldsby, Richard A.; Osborne, Barbara A. (2007). Kuby immunology. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman. ISBN 1-4292-0211-4.
 
Bone Marrow IHC.  Torlakovic, EE, et. al. American Society for Clinical Pathology Pathology Press © 2009.  pp. 17-23.
 
Benekli M, Hahn T, Williams BT, Cooper M, Roy HN, Wallace P, et al. Muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone OKT3), methylprednisolone and cyclosporine for acute graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2006;38: 365–370. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1705450
 
BioRAD. The T Cell Marker, CD3 Antigen and Antibodies.  Mini Review.  Accessed 9-6-17.
 
Dahlin JS, Hallgren J. Mast cell progenitors: origin, development and migration to tissues. Mol Immunol. 2015;63: 9–17. doi:10.1016/j.molimm.2014.01.018