The CD71 antigen is known as the transferrin receptor. It mediates cellular iron uptake via internalization and recycling. It is a type II membrane glycoprotein, characterized as a disulfide-bound dimer of two identical subunits of 95 kDa each. CD71 is expressed on activated T and B lymphocytes, macrophages and erythroblasts. The N-Terminal, intracytoplasmic domain of CD71 mediates rapid endocytosis and self recycling. CD71 is absent from resting blood leucocytes. Its expression is upregulated on proliferating cells.

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