Human Leukocyte Antigen CD37 / TSPAN26 (CD37) Protein

Background

CD37 is a member of the tetraspanin family, a group of membrane proteins involved in cellular signaling, adhesion, migration, and immune responses. It is primarily expressed on leukocytes, especially on B cells, T cells, monocytes, and dendritic cells. CD37 plays a pivotal role in organizing membrane microdomains called tetraspanin-enriched microdomains (TEMs), which serve as platforms for cell signaling, facilitating the clustering of various membrane proteins, including integrins and other receptors involved in immune regulation. Unlike many other surface molecules, tetraspanins such as CD37 do not have a direct catalytic function but modulate the function of other molecules by influencing their spatial distribution and assembly in the membrane. This modulation affects immune cell functions, such as antigen presentation, cell adhesion, and migration, as well as B cell maturation and antibody production.