Mouse Anti-Chicken c-Kit Monoclonal Antibody

Chicken c-Kit, also known as CD117, is a protein tyrosine kinase receptor that plays a pivotal role in the development and function of various cell types within the avian body, particularly in the hematopoietic system. Expressed on the surface of early precursor cells, including hematopoietic stem cells and early T and B lymphocytes, c-Kit is crucial for cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. The c-Kit receptor interacts with its primary ligand, stem cell factor (SCF), to initiate intracellular signaling pathways that are essential for the development of immune cells and the maintenance of immune homeostasis in chickens. This interaction is vital for processes such as the migration of lymphoid precursors to the thymus and bursa of Fabricius, which are critical for T and B cell maturation, respectively.