Human Thy1

CD90, also known as Thy1, is an approximately 25-35 kDa glycoprotein that mediates cellular adhesion and exerts wide ranging effects in different tissues. CD90 is expressed on hematopoietic progenitor cells, neurons, and activated vascular endothelial cells. CD90 can form dimers and higher order multimers. It binds to heparin, the proteoglycan Syndecan-4, and Integrins alpha M beta 2, alpha V beta 3, and alpha V beta 5. Through these interactions, CD90 inhibits neurite outgrowth, promotes astrocyte adhesion, mediates the adhesion and extravasation of leukocytes and melanoma cells, supports the Thrombospondin-1 induced disassembly of fibroblast focal adhesions, and inhibits the activation of latent TGF-beta 1, myofibroblast differentiation, and lung fibrosis (1-5).