CD38 is a type II integral membrane glycoprotein which is present on early B and T cell lineages and activated B and T cells but is absent from most mature resting peripheral lymphocytes. CD38 is also found on thymocytes, pre-B cells, germinal center B cells, mitogen-activated T cells, monocytes and Ig-secreting plasma cells. CD38 acts as a NAD glycohydrolase in T lymphocytes. On hematopoietic cells CD38 induces activation, proliferation, and differentiation of mature T and B cells and mediates apoptosis of myeloid and lymphoid progenitor cells. In addition to acting as a signaling receptor, CD38 is also an enzyme capable of producing several calcium-mobilizing metabolites, including cyclic adenosine diphosphate ribose (cADPR). CD38 also plays a role in maintaining survival of an invariant NK T (iNKT) cell subset that preferentially contributes to the maintenance of immunological tolerance.
