CD38: A multi-lineage cell activation molecule with a split personality

Fabio Malavasi1, Ada Funaro1, Massimo Alessio1, Lucia B. DeMonte1, Clara M. Ausiello2, Umberto Dianzani3, Francesco Lanza4, Elisabetta Magrini1, Monica Momo1, Stefano Roggero1
1Laboratorio di Biologia Cellulare, Dipartimento di Genetica, Biologia e Chimica Medica, Università di Torino e Centro CII/CIOS, CNR, Turin, Italy
2Istituto CNR Tipizzazione Tissutale e Problemi della Dialisi, L'Aquila, Italy
3Dipartimento di Medicina ed Oncologia Sperimentale, Università di Torino, Turin, Italy
4Cattedra di Ematologia, Università di Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

Tóm tắt

This review reports the characteristics of the human surface molecule CD38, a structure not linked to a definite line and predominantly expressed in early and activated phenotypes. The CD38 molecule consists of a single chain of 46 kDa, spanning the membrane and with the carboxyl terminus located in the extracellular compartment. The CD38 molecule is also involved in the transduction of activation and proliferation signals, which are line unrestricted. The gene coding for the CD38 antigen has been cloned and used for the construction of simian and mouse transfectants expressing the human molecule. These cell models are used for the analysis of several unanswered issues, mainly concerning the in vivo function of CD38, the existence of a natural ligand and of polymorphism in the population.

Tài liệu tham khảo

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