Specificity
This antibody recognises the Hepatitis C virus envelope glycoprotein E2, a 333 amino acid single pass type 1 transmembrane protein also known as NSA, gp68 or gp70. The E2 protein forms a heterodimer with the Envelope glycoprotein E1 and is involved in viral entry into cells. The E2 protein acts as a ligand for CD209 and CLEC4M found on dendritic cells and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells respectively. CLEC4M is also found lymph nide sinusoidal macrophage like cells (UniProt: P26664).