Which CD molecule is commonly used to distinguish monocytes and macrophages from other immune cells?

The CD molecule that is commonly used to distinguish monocytes and macrophages from other immune cells is CD14. This molecule is a co-receptor for the detection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and is predominantly expressed on the surface of monocytes and macrophages.

CD14 plays a key role in the immune response by facilitating the recognition of pathogens through pattern recognition receptors. Its expression is a hallmark characteristic of monocytes in both their circulating form and when they differentiate into macrophages. In contrast to other CD molecules mentioned, such as CD4 and CD8, which are specifically associated with T lymphocytes, or CD16, which is found on natural killer (NK) cells and a subset of macrophages, CD14 is distinctively linked to the monocyte/macrophage lineage. This specificity makes CD14 a reliable marker for identifying these cells in immunological studies and clinical settings.