A hairy cell leukemia associated antigen (HC2) has a distinct role in normal B cell differentiation.
Activation antigens expressed by activated B cells, but not by resting B cells, are excellent candidate molecules for lymphokine receptors, which are expressed after B cell activation. HC2 is a previously described hairy cell leukemia associated antigen, which is not expressed by chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells. HC2 is also found on activated B cells but not on resting B cells. Here we demonstrate that HC2 is not a B lineage restricted antigen and may be expressed by other activated cell types. Antibody to HC2 inhibits the activity of partially purified B cell growth factor in two different assays and inhibits B cell differentiation induced by pokeweed mitogen or Staphylococcus aureus Cowan stain I with interleukin-2. The HC2 antigen may therefore have a distinct role in normal B cell differentiation.
D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007378:Interleukins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000276:immunology
D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D007378:Interleukins; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; D015847:Interleukin-4