Distiguishing plasma cells from B cells by the level of CD38 expression
alone is not sufficient if you are interested in recognizing all plasma
cells. Even adding CD45 works only in normal samples. In the case of
malignancy (myeloma) or reactive situations, many plasma cells express
various levels of CD45. While you may be able to purify (sort) plasma cells
by high CD38 expression, or high CD35 negative CD45, you will miss plasma
cells that have not matured completely. Loss of B cell (and all other)
antigen expression is a gradual process, and not always completely
synchronized, especially not in stress situations. You can look in Blood
81:3357-3364, 1993.
JE
CD-ROM Vol 3 was produced by Monica M. Shively and other staff at the
Purdue University Cytometry Laboratories and distributed free of charge
as an educational service to the cytometry community.
If you have any comments please direct them to
Dr. J. Paul Robinson, Professor & Director,
PUCL, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907.
Phone: (765)-494-0757;
FAX(765) 494-0517;
Web