Purified anti-human MICA/MICB

6D4 antibody reacts with a common epitope of the human nonclassical MHC class I chain-related protein A (MICA) and B (MICB), also known as PERB11.1 and PERB11.2. The MIC gene is located in MHC class I region. MICA/B are 65-75 kD stress-inducible glycoproteins with highly polymorphic. They are MHC class I-like transmembrane molecules that do not associate beta2-microglobulin and do not present peptides. MICA and MICB share 85% identify, and are mainly expressed on Intestinal epithelial cells, epithelial tumor cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and IFN-alpha-stimulated dendritic cells. MIC molecules bind NKG2D, an activating receptor, and induce activation of NK cells, and subset of CD8+ alpha/beta T cells and gamma/delta T cells, as well as suppression of T cell proliferation. MICA/B recognition is involved in the regulation of tumor surveillance, viral infection and autoimmune diseases. The 6D4 antibody is able to block MIC mediated cytotoxicity.