MICA Antibody

MICA and MICB are stress-induced antigens that are related to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. MICA and MICB are frequently expressed in epithelial tumors. These highly glycosylated cell surface proteins are stably expressed without conventional class I peptide ligands or association with -2-microglobulin. The expression is induced on proliferating or heat shock-stressed epithelial cells. MICA and MICB are broadly recognized by intestinal epithelial γδ T cells expressing variable TCRs, suggesting that these antigens may play a central role in the signaling of cellular distress to evoke immune responses in the intestinal epithelium.