Human CD38 and Related Molecules

In recent years, CD38 has emerged from a simple differentiation marker to a multifunctional cell surface protein. It can serve as an ectoenzyme that catalyzes the synthesis and hydrolysis of a Ca2+mobilizing agent, cyclic ADP-ribose. Since intracellular calcium plays a key role in cell signaling pathways leading to cell growth, apoptosis, and differentiation, the enzymatic functions of CD38 may contribute to an array of immunoregulatory functions. Ligation of CD38 with agonistic antibodies induc