The SE5A5 monoclonal antibody specifically binds to a common epitope on CD172a/SIRPα (90 kDa) and CD172b/SIRPβ1 (50 kDa). These transmembrane glycoproteins are members of the Signal Regulatory Protein (SIRP) family that, in turn, belongs to the Immunoglobulin superfamily. The SIRP family is comprised of two subgroups, SIRPα and SIRPβ that are distinguished by the presence (α) or absence (β) of a cytoplasmic domain containing two immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motifs (ITIM). CD172a/SIRPα is expressed on CD34+ stem/progenitor cells, cardiomyocytes, monocytes, macrophages, granulocytes, dendritic cells, and in the central nervous system. It binds to CD47 and is implicated in mediating inhibitory signals via the ITIM/SHP-2 association. CD172b/SIRPβ1 does not possess a cytoplasmic domain but instead the transmembrane domain contains a positively-charged residue that can interact with another transmembrane protein, DAP-12/KARAP. DAP-12 has two immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAM) within its cytoplasmic domain that are thought to link CD172b to cellular activation signaling. CD172b is expressed on myeloid cells, including peripheral blood monocytes and granulocytes. It is not expressed on CD34+ cells. CD172a and CD172b have complementary roles in signal regulation and may work together in tuning certain cellular responses to stimuli.