We have identified Tspan33 as a gene encoding a transmembrane protein exhibiting a restricted expression pattern including expression in activated B cells. TSPAN33 is a member of the tetraspanin family. TSPAN33 is not expressed in resting B cells, but is strongly induced in primary human B cells following activation. Human 2E2 cells, a Burkitt's lymphoma-derived B cell model of activation and differentiation, also upregulate TSPAN33 upon activation. TSPAN33 is expressed in several lymphomas including Hodgkin's and Diffuse large B cell lymphoma. TSPAN33 is also expressed in some autoimmune diseases where B cells participate in the pathology, including rheumatoid arthritis patients, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and in spleen B cells from MRL/Fas(lpr/lpr) mice (a mouse model of SLE). We conclude that TSPAN33 may be used as a diagnostic biomarker or as a target for therapeutic antibodies for treatment of certain B cell lymphomas or autoimmune diseases.
Keywords: B cell maturation antigen; B cells; BCMA; BIGE; BL; Biomarker; Burkitt's lymphoma; DLBCL; Diffuse large B cell lymphoma; HL; Hodgkin's lymphoma; Lupus erythematosus; Lymphoma; NHL; RA; Rheumatoid arthritis; SLE; TSPAN33; Tetraspanin 33; body index of gene expression (database); non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; rheumatoid arthritis; systemic lupus erythematosus; tetraspanin 33.
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