CD31, also known as Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (PECAM-1), is a 130 kDa transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. It is strongly expressed on vascular and lymphatic endothelial cells and is also present on platelets, monocytes, neutrophils, and subsets of lymphocytes. CD31 plays essential roles in endothelial cell adhesion, leukocyte transmigration, angiogenesis, mechanotransduction, maintenance of vascular integrity, and regulation of inflammatory responses.
Diagnostic Utility of CD31 in Soft Tissue Pathology
CD31 is widely regarded as one of the most sensitive and relatively specific immunohistochemical markers of endothelial differentiation in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. It is particularly valuable for the identification and confirmation of vascular neoplasms and for the differential diagnosis of morphologically challenging spindle cell and epithelioid tumors. Typical applications include:
- Identification of benign vascular tumors and vascular malformations.
- Confirmation of endothelial differentiation in angiosarcoma.
- Support for the diagnosis of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma and Kaposi sarcoma.
- Assessment of tumor vascularization and microvessel density in research applications.
- Inclusion in multiparametric immunohistochemical panels together with ERG, FLI1, CD34, and D2-40 for the evaluation of vascular tumors.
Key Features of CE/IVD Anti-CD31 Antibodies
- Optimized for immunohistochemical analysis of FFPE tissues.
- High sensitivity for endothelial cell detection with strong, crisp membranous staining patterns.
- Validated for routine diagnostic workflows and standardized staining protocols.
- Compatible with heat-induced epitope retrieval methods and polymer-based detection systems.
- Designed to provide reproducible staining intensity with minimal background reactivity.
- Available in ready-to-use and concentrated formats suitable for both manual and automated IHC platforms.
