Anti-Human CD38 (Clone OKT10) - PE

CD38 is a 45kD type II transmembrane glycoprotein that plays a role in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ by synthesizing and hydrolyzing an intracellular calcium ion mobilizing messenger.

CD38 has both extracellular and intracellular functions as indicated by the release of soluble protein and the ability of membrane-bound protein to become internalized.

The functional molecule is a dimer that contains the catalytic site in the central portion, and is involved in both extracellular and intracellular functions.

CD38 plays a role in cell adhesion, signal transduction and calcium signaling.

CD38 has been used as a biomarker to measure the progress of a chronic lymphocytic leukemia in patients.

Because CD38 is expressed on mature lymphocytes and lymphoplasmacytic cells, OKT10 can be used to study final B cell maturation.

OKT10 reactivity with CD38 occurs in an inversely proportional relationship to the occurrence of Ia-like antigenic expression.

Hence, these two antigens can be used as reciprocal complementary reactants for the study of mature B cell malignancies, such as CLL, multiple myeloma, and Waldenström malignancy.