title: CD38 is a signaling molecule in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells.
abstract: The prognosis for patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is generally less favorable for those expressing CD38. Our working hypothesis is that CD38 is not merely a marker in B-CLL, but that it plays a receptor role with pathogenetic potential ruling the proliferation of the malignant clone. CD38 levels were generally low in the patients examined and monoclonal antibody (mAb) ligation was inefficient in signaling. Other cellular models indicated that molecular density and surface organization are critical for CD38 functionality. Interleukin 2 (IL-2) induced a marked up-modulation and surface rearrangement of CD38 in all the patients studied. On reaching a specific expression threshold, CD38 becomes an efficient receptor in purified B-CLL cells. Indeed, mAb ligation is followed by Ca2+ fluxes and by a markedly increased proliferation. The unsuitability of CD38 to perform as a receptor is obviated through close interaction with the B-cell-receptor (BCR) complex and CD19. On mAb binding, CD38 translocates to the membrane lipid microdomains, as shown by a colocalization with the GM1 ganglioside and with CD81, a raft-resident protein. Finally, CD38 signaling in IL-2-treated B-CLL cells prolonged survival and induced the appearance of plasmablasts, providing a pathogenetic hypothesis for the occurrence of Richter syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Department of Genetics, Biology and Biochemistry, via Santena 19, 10126 Turin, Italy. fabio.malavasi@unito.it
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deaglio
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capobianco
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bergui
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dürig
authors.forename: Fortunato
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morabito
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dührsen
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Malavasi
mesh_terms: D036541:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase / Q000378:metabolism*; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D018941:Antigens, CD19 / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015448:Leukemia, B-Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018941:Antigens, CD19; D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D036541:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase; C498154:CD38 protein, human; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1