Human Basal Cell Adhesion Molecule (BCAM) Protein

Background

Basal Cell Adhesion Molecule (BCAM), also known as Lu antigen or Lutheran antigen, is a type I membrane glycoprotein primarily expressed on the surface of erythrocytes (red blood cells) and other cell types, including endothelial cells and certain epithelial cells. BCAM belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell adhesion molecules (IgCAMs), which are involved in the adhesion between cells and the extracellular matrix. It is notably involved in the Lutheran blood group system, which plays an important role in blood transfusion medicine. BCAM is an important adhesion molecule that facilitates interactions between cells, as well as between cells and their extracellular matrix (ECM), thus contributing to tissue integrity and signaling processes. BCAM is critical in the endothelial cell junctions and erythrocyte adhesion to endothelial cells, thereby influencing processes like inflammation, vascular permeability, and cell migration. BCAM's expression on erythrocytes links it to important blood group antigens, which have clinical relevance in transfusion medicine, as well as in understanding the molecular mechanisms of various diseases, including autoimmune disorders, inflammatory diseases, and cancers.