Description: The 2B8 monoclonal antibody reacts with mouse CD117, also known as c-Kit receptor, Steel factor receptor and stem cell factor receptor. A member of the tyrosine kinase receptor family, this 145 kDa molecule is expressed by a majority of hematopoietic progenitor cells characterized in the mouse bone marrow as a small subset of cells positive for Sca-1 and Thy1 (Thy1lo) and negative for lineage markers. The interaction of the mouse c-kit receptor and steel factor promotes the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. CD117 is also expressed by mast cells and plays a role in signaling and activation of these cells.