The monoclonal antibody 4B12/CCR7 reacts with the mouse C-C chemokine receptor type 7 (CCR7). CCR7 is also known as CD197 (previously known as EBI1, Ebi1h and CMKBR7) and plays a central role in mediating homeostatic B and T lymphocyte trafficking to and within secondary lymphoid tissues. CD197 is a seven-transmembrane, G-protein-coupled, 43 kDa glycoprotein receptor that is specific for the CC chemokines, MIP3ß/Exodus-3/ELC/CKb11/Scya19/CCL19 and 6Ckine/Exodus-2/SLC/TCA4/CKb9/Scya21/CCL21. The mouse Ccr7 gene is located on chromosome 11. CD197 (CCR7) is differentially expressed by subsets of thymocytes. Positive CD197 expression appears to be involved in the cortex-to-medulla migration of positively-selected thymocytes wherein they complete functional maturation including the establishment of central tolerance. It is most highly expressed by some mature medullary single-positive thymocytes. CD197 is also expressed by subsets of mature peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes including naïve and regulatory T cells and central memory T cells. In addition, it is differentially expressed by subsets of B lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and Langerhans cells. CD197 serves as a homing receptor that helps guide these various cell types to and within lymphoid tissues. In this way, CCR7 supports protective immunity while safeguarding self tolerance. Reportedly, the 4B12/CCR7 antibody is not agonistic, is not blocked by CCL21 nor by physiologic levels of CCL19, nor does the antibody block the binding of CCL21 to CCR7. The immunogen used to generate the 4B12 hybridoma was a mouse CCR7-transfected rat cell line.
The antibody was conjugated to BD Horizon BB700, which is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant™ Blue family of dyes. It is a polymer-based tandem dye developed exclusively by BD Biosciences. With an excitation max of 485 nm and an emission max of 693 nm, BD Horizon BB700 can be excited by the 488 nm laser and detected in a standard PerCP-Cy™5.5 set (eg, 695/40-nm filter). This dye provides a much brighter alternative to PerCP-Cy5.5 with less cross laser excitation off the 405 nm and 355 nm lasers.
