CD47 contains 1 Ig-like V-type (immunoglobulin-like) domain and is a receptor for the C-terminal cell binding domain of thrombospondin. It may play a role in membrane transport and signal transduction. CD47 is also a membrane protein, which is involved in the increase in intracellular calcium concentration that occurs upon cell adhesion to extracellular matrix. It is very broadly distributed on normal adult tissues, as well as ovarian tumors, being especially abundant in some epithelia and the brain. CD47 may play a role in membrane transport and/or integrin dependent signal transduction. It may prevent premature elimination of red blood cells. It also may be involved in membrane permeability changes induced following virus infection. By acting as an adhesion receptor for THBS1 on platelets, CD47 plays a role in both cell adhesion and in the modulation of integrins. It also plays an important role in memory formation and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus.
