Background
CD47 also known as Rh-associated protein, gp42, integrin-associated protein (IAP), and neurophilin, is a 42-52 kD member of the immunoglobulin superfamily containing a five-pass transmembrane attachment. Two splice variants have been described in the cytoplasmic tail, the shorter form is expressed in bone-marrow-derived cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts while the longer form is expressed by neural tissues. CD47 expression is widely distributed in hematopoietic cells including thymocytes, T cells, B cells, monocytes, platelets, and erythrocytes as well as epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and neural tissues. CD47 functions as an adhesion molecule and thrombospondin receptor and is non-covalently associated with β3 integrins CD51/CD61, CD41/CD61. Thrombospondin is a ligand for CD47; in the absence of CD47 mice show defects in host defense and β3 integrin-dependent ligand binding, migration, and cellular activation. CD47 is also part of the Rh complex on erythrocytes.