CD2 is a surface antigen of the human T lymphocyte lineage that is expressed on all peripheral blood T cells. It is one of the earliest T cell markers, being present on more than 95% of thymocytes; it is also found on some natural killer cells but not on B lymphocytes.  CD2 interacts with lymphocyte function associated antigen (LFA3/ CD58) and CD48/BCM1 to mediate adhesion between T cells and other cell types.  Intracellularly, it interacts with lck.  CD2 can be used for monitoring T-cell number in periperal blood, and identification of lymphomas and leukaemias of T-cell orgin

RPMI 1640 + 10% FCS + penicillin (100U/ml) + streptomycin (100mg/l) + glutamine (2mM) + HAT.

Pawelec G et al. 1989. Stimulatory capacity of Workship T-cell antibodies on T-lymphocyte clones.  Leukocyte Typing IV, Oxford Univeristy Press, Oxford, New York and Tokyo; p310-311.2. 

CD guide for CD2 (1989) Leukocyte Typing IV, Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York and Tokyo;  p1074-1075