Background | CD21 antigen is a type I integral membrane glycoprotein of molecular weight 140 kD, which functions as the receptor for the C3d fragment of the third complement component. The CD21 molecule, present on mature B cells, is involved in transmitting growth-promoting signals to the interior of the B cell and acts as a receptor for Epstein-Barr virus. CD21 antigen is reported to be found in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemias and in a subset of T cell acute lymphocytic leukemias but is absent on T lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes. CD21 antigen is also reported to be expressed in follicular dendritic cells and in follicular and mantle cell lymphomas, mature leukemias and lymphomas. |
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