Glycophorin (Erythroid Cell Marker), in Visit Clinic

Markers of erythroid cells include Glycophorin A (CD235a) and high transferrin receptor (CD71); early precursors express CD36, c‑Kit (CD117) and erythropoietin receptor (EPOR). Mature erythrocytes contain hemoglobin and Band 3 (anion exchanger). In mouse studies Ter119 is commonly used. Committed erythroid cells lose stem markers such as CD34 as they mature.

CD71, the transferrin receptor (TfR1), is a cell‑surface marker of iron uptake expressed strongly on proliferating cells, especially erythroid precursors, reticulocytes and activated lymphocytes, and on many rapidly dividing or malignant cells. It signals high iron demand and cellular proliferation, so it’s used in diagnostics and research to identify dividing cells, immature red‑cell populations and certain tumors.

CD235a, also called glycophorin A, is a membrane glycoprotein expressed specifically on erythroid cells—mature red blood cells and erythroid precursors. It’s widely used in flow cytometry to identify and quantify erythroid lineage cells, detect fetal or donor red cells, and assess erythroid-related disorders such as hemoglobinopathies and erythroleukemia. It carries major red-cell surface antigens.

TER-119 is a murine erythroid-lineage cell surface antigen used to identify and isolate red blood cell precursors and mature erythrocytes in mice. It is expressed from the proerythroblast stage through mature erythrocytes, so TER-119 staining is commonly used to quantify and sort erythroid cells from mouse bone marrow, spleen, and blood. It is not a human marker.

CD11b (integrin αM) is a myeloid-lineage marker expressed mainly on neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages, and on many granulocytes (eosinophils), dendritic cell subsets and natural killer (NK) cells. It’s also found on tissue-resident macrophages such as microglia and can appear on some activated lymphocytes during inflammation. Used in flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, CD11b mediates adhesion, migration and phagocytosis.

Mature erythrocytes do not express CD45. CD45 is a leukocyte common antigen present on most nucleated hematopoietic and leukocyte-lineage cells. During erythropoiesis, early erythroid progenitors may be CD45-positive or CD45-dim, but CD45 is progressively downregulated and lost with terminal maturation, so late erythroblasts, reticulocytes and mature red blood cells are CD45-negative.