This gene encodes a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. The encoded protein is a lectin-like adhesion molecule that binds glycoconjugate ligands on cell surfaces in a sialic acid-dependent manner. It is a type I transmembrane protein expressed only by a subpopulation of macrophages and is involved in mediating cell-cell interactions. Alternative splicing produces a transcript variant encoding an isoform that is soluble rather than membrane-bound, however, the full-length nature of this variant has not been determined. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008],alternative products:Additional isoforms seem to exist,function:Macrophage-restricted adhesion molecule that mediates sialic-acid dependent binding to lymphocytes, including granulocytes, monocytes, natural killer cells, B-cells and CD8 T-cells. Preferentially binds to alpha-2,3-linked sialic acid (By similarity). Binds to SPN/CD43 on T-cells (By similarity). May play a role in hemopoiesis.,online information:Siglec-1,similarity:Belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily. SIGLEC (sialic acid binding Ig-like lectin) family.,similarity:Contains 1 Ig-like V-type (immunoglobulin-like) domain.,similarity:Contains 16 Ig-like C2-type (immunoglobulin-like) domains.,tissue specificity:Expressed by macrophages in various tissues. High levels are found in spleen, lymph node, perivascular macrophages in brain and lower levels in bone marrow, liver Kupffer cells and lamina propria of colon and lung. Also expressed by inflammatory macrophages in rheumatoid arthritis.,
