Anti-Human CD38 Monoclonal Antibody (Daratumumab)

CD38 is a bifunctional transmembrane glycoprotein widely expressed on mammalian cells. It functions both as an ectoenzyme that degrades NAD⁺ to produce calcium-mobilizing messengers such as cADPR, and as a receptor involved in signal transduction, playing key regulatory roles in immune cell activation, lymphocyte proliferation, and hormone secretion. Within the immune system, CD38 is commonly used as a surface marker for plasma cells, NK cells, and certain T-cell subsets; its expression levels dynamically change with cell differentiation and activation status, and it is deeply involved in cell adhesion, chemotaxis, and intracellular calcium homeostasis. Furthermore, by consuming NAD⁺, CD38 influences cellular energy metabolism and aging-related pathways. It shows differential expression in inflammation, diabetes, osteoporosis, and tumor immunity. Notably, CD38 is highly expressed on the surface of hematological tumor cells, such as multiple myeloma cells, making it an important biomarker for disease diagnosis and an ideal target for antibody-based therapies (e.g., daratumumab).