Characterizing CD38 expression in terminally differentiated B cells using variable lymphocyte receptor B tetramers

• Published in: Frontiers in immunology 2024-10, Vol.15, p.1451232
• Main Authors: Nair, Arundhati G, Leon-Ponte, Matilde, Kim, Vy Hd, Sussman, Gordon, Ehrhardt, Götz R A, Grunebaum, Eyal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 - immunology; ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 - metabolism; Adult; Aged; allergy; antibody deficiencies; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; B-Lymphocytes - metabolism; CD38; Cell Differentiation - immunology; Child; Female; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Immunology; Immunophenotyping; Male; Membrane Glycoproteins - immunology; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Middle Aged; plasmablasts; Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell - immunology; Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell - metabolism; sea lamprey; transitional B cells; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1664-3224; 1664-3224
• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1451232

CD38 is an ectoenzyme receptor found on hematopoietic cells and its expression is used in the flow cytometric analysis of sub-populations of circulating B cells among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to aid in diagnosing patients with different antibody production defects (AbD). Monoclonal antibodies derived from the sea lamprey Variable Lymphocyte Receptor B (VLRB) are emerging as an alternative to conventional mammalian antibodies. We hypothesized that VLRB MM3 (V-CD38) which specifically recognizes CD38 in a manner correlating with its enzymatic activity could identify terminally differentiated B cells in human PBMC. Here we investigate the ability of V-CD38 as a tool to diagnose patients with diverse immune abnormalities including AbD. The expression of CD38 on CD3 CD19 CD27 plasmablasts and CD3 CD19 IgM CD27 transitional B cells in PBMC was analyzed by flow cytometry using V-CD38 and compared with a commercial conventional antibody to CD38 (C-CD38). A highly significant correlation (p