MICA Antibody

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I proteins are ubiquitously expressed and mediate the recognition of intracellular antigens by cytotoxic T cells. A related family, termed the MHC class I chain-related (MIC) proteins are recognized by NKG2D, a receptor on NK and T cells, and promote anti-tumor activity. MICA, a member of the MIC family, is widely expressed on many tumors, and it is the MICA/NKG2D interaction that is thought to stimulate the anti-tumor reactivity by T lymphocytes. Both MICA and MICB mRNA are widely expressed in normal tissues, with MICA being present in virtually every tissue except the nervous system, suggesting that MIC protein expression may only be one component of the anti-tumor activity of the immune system.