kalvomerkit

Kalvomerkit is a term used in biology and medicine to describe proteins or glycoproteins located on the surface of cells that are used to identify and characterize different cell types. The word is Finnish, combining kalvo (membrane) and merkit (markers). In practice, kalvomerkit are often referred to in English as cell surface markers or membrane markers and are a fundamental concept in immunology, histology, and flow cytometry.

These markers are typically membrane-bound molecules such as receptors, adhesion proteins, or other surface proteins that can be detected with antibodies. Through methods like flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, or immunofluorescence, researchers and clinicians can determine which markers are present on a cell, enabling detailed phenotyping of cell populations. Classic examples include CD molecules (such as CD4 and CD8) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, along with many lineage- or activation-specific markers.

Applications of kalvomerkit include immunophenotyping of hematopoietic cells, diagnosis and classification of leukemias and lymphomas, monitoring of immune status during therapy, and basic research into cell differentiation and function. Marker expression can vary with cell type, developmental stage, activation status, tissue origin, and species, so interpretation often relies on multiple markers and contextual information.

In Finnish-language literature, kalvomerkit emphasize the membrane location and surface-specific detection. In English, the term most often encountered is cell surface marker. See also cell surface marker, flow cytometry, immunophenotyping, membrane protein.