CD48 [MD134]

CD48 (BLAST1) is an activation-associated, glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored cell surface glycoprotein expressed primarily in mitogen-stimulated human lymphocytes. CD48 is expressed on T cells, B cells, thymocytes and splenocytes. Both normal and malignant white blood cells express CD48 on their membrane surface, but greater than 95% of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells do not express CD48. CD48 is expressed at higher levels on human Burkitt’s lymphoma cell lines, Raji and most acute myeloid leukemia cells with phenotype CD34-/CD13+/CD33+. Although much remains to be elucidated, CD48 is a critical marker for human immunity, and will most likely be of use in the treatment of many diseases like hematopoietic tumors, autoimmunity, allergy and chronic inflammatory diseases.