title: Role of the human CD38 molecule in B cell activation and proliferation.
abstract: Human CD38 is a surface molecule which has been attributed the function of a signaling channel leading to cellular activation and proliferation, an ectoenzyme with multiple function as well as an inducer of Ca2+ mobilization from cytoplasmic stores. The effect mediated by CD38 have been studied in different cell populations: the results obtained in human B cells are apparently contradictory, with CD38 simultaneously leading to apoptosis in early B cells while increasing survival in cells derived from lymph node germinal center. Other effects recently reported concern a different potential in terms of signaling in early B cells and derived cell lines or in more detailed disease models of human leukemia, namely B chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. To complete the picture of the effects mediated by CD38 in the B cell compartment, we have studied the signals elicited by ligation of the human molecule in mature B cells from circulating pool and also from spleen of normal individuals. The information obtained completes the picture of CD38 and mature B cells, where we also studied the contribution of relevant cytokines involved in maintenance and differentiation of these normal cells, namely IL-1 alpha, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6. Our results indicate that human CD38 plays a key role as a co-receptor in mature B cells from normal individuals.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Genetica, Biologia e Chimica Medica, Università di Torino, Italy. cellbiol@csi.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Funaro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morra
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calosso
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Zini
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ausiello
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Malavasi
mesh_terms: D036541:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008934:Mitogens / Q000276:immunology; D009699:N-Glycosyl Hydrolases / Q000276:immunology*; D010641:Phenotype; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D016207:Cytokines; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008934:Mitogens; D009699:N-Glycosyl Hydrolases; D036541:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase; C498154:CD38 protein, human; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1