CD83 [HB15a]

CD83 is a 40-45kD glycoprotein expressed by peripheral blood dendritic cells. Peripheral lymphocytes can be induced to express very low levels of CD83 after culture in agents such as Con A or PHA. In immunohistology, CD83 is shown to be expressed strongly by interfollicular interdigitating reticulum cells and more weakly by cells within germinal centres. CD83 is also expressed by Langerhan’s cells in the skin. The CD83 antigen is a 186-amino-acid single-chain glycoprotein and this molecule is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily that is composed of an extracellular V-type Ig-like single domain, a transmembrane region, and a short, 40-amino-acid cytoplasmic tail. CD83 antigen undergoes extensive post-translational glycosylation, since the determined Mr is twice the predicted size of the core protein. However, CD83+ cells have a unique cell surface immuno-phenotype that does not correlate with that of T cells, B cells, NK cells, or cells of the myelomonocytic lineage. CD83+ cells coexpress the highest levels of MHC class II molecules, when compared with other leucocyte lineages. They also co-express T cell markers (CD2, CD5), B cell markers (CD40, CD78), myeloid cell markers (CD13, CD33, CD36), cytokine receptors as well as other cell surface molecules. Diseases associated with CD83 dysfunction include plague and Rift Valley Fever.