CD38 is expressed selectively during the activation of a subset of mature T cells with reduced proliferation but improved potential to produce cytokines

Abstract

CD38 is an approximately 45-kDa type II transmembrane glycoprotein expressed by hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells. Its surface expression is under complex control and varies during lymphocyte development, activation, and differentiation, suggesting an important role in these processes. Murine CD38 has been mainly characterized on B lymphocytes, and in humans, the molecule has been studied in T cells. This paper provides evidences that murine CD38 is regulated tightly during T cell activation and differentiation. On the periphery, a subset of mature T lymphocytes was identified by the expression of CD38. These cells showed an activated phenotype; they were larger and more granular than their negative counterparts. In accord with this observation, in vitro-activated T cells up-regulated CD38. Memory T lymphocytes also were CD38-positive. It is interesting that T cells expressing high levels of CD38 had a reduced, proliferative capacity but displayed an improved potential to produce interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma, suggesting a role of this molecule during T cell activation and differentiation.

Both Th1 and Th17 Are Immunopathogenic but Differ in Other Key Biological Activities

“…Expression levels of ␣ 4 ␤ 7 (LPAM-1) and ␣ E ␤ 7 (CD103) were also significantly different; Th1 cells were found to express higher levels of ␣ 4 ␤ 7 , an integrin involved in mucosal tissue homing (27), whereas Th17 expressed moderately higher levels of ␣ E ␤ 7 , an integrin involved in epithelial tissue homing (28). Additionally, a noticeable difference was found in the expression patterns of CD38, a multifunctional marker for maturation, activation, and trafficking (29,30), with Th17 expressing high levels and Th1 expressing low levels. Neither Th lineage at this stage of culture expressed measurable levels of the chemokine receptor CXCR3.…”

Expression levels of CD38 in T cells predict course of disease in male patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia

“…CD38, though itself lacking intracellular signaling activity, has been shown to be critical for T-cell functions such as T-cell receptor (TCR)-dependent activation, cytokine production, proliferation, cytolytic activity, 29 and, finally, activation-induced cell death. 30 Since the cytokines produced by CD38 ϩ T cells such as interleukin-2, interleukin-4, and interferon-␥ 29,31 have all been shown to support survival of B-CLL cells in vitro, [32][33][34] enhanced cytokine production by CD8 ϩ T cells might significantly contribute to disease progression of B-CLL. Interactions of T cells with clinical course in B-CLL is not an unexpected finding, since alterations within the T-cell compartment that contribute to progressive disease have already been reported previously.…”

Altered plasma albumin characteristics and lymphocyte populations in gastrointestinal cancer patients: Detection using modified fluorescence responses

“…In general, CD38 is expressed primarily on B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes, as well as stem/germ cells (Cesano et al, 1998;Lund et al, 1999); the CD38 ligand is an ADP-ribosyl cyclase enzyme that regulates the activation and growth of these lymphoid (as well as myeloid) cells (reviewed in Deterre et al, 2000;Wykes et al, 2004;Sandoval-Montes and Santos-Argumedo, 2005). The data in the current study clearly show no evidence of any B-lymphocyte-based leukemia (i.e., CD16 + cell levels were lower in patients' pre-and post-surgery blood samples than in controls) among the cancer patients.…”