A cell-surface molecule involved in organ-specific homing of lymphocytes

Lymphocytes migrate from the bloodstream by recognizing and binding to specialized endothelial cells lining the high endothelial venules (HEV) in lymph nodes and Peyer's patches. We describe here a monoclonal antibody, MEL-14, specific for a lymphocyte surface molecule that appears to mediate recognition of lymph node HEV, and to be required for lymphocyte homing into lymph nodes in vivo.