Spleen stained with Anti-CD79a
Cluster of differentiation CD79a also known as B-cell antigen receptor complex-associated protein alpha chain is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CD79A gene. The CD79a protein together with the related CD79b protein, forms a dimer associated with membrane-bound immunoglobulin in B-cells, thus forming the B-cell antigen receptor (BCR), and plays multiple and diverse roles in B cell development and function. CD79a protein is expressed in virtually all mature and immature B cells and the majority of B-cell neoplasms, including precursor B–acute lymphocytic leukaemia (pre-B–ALL), L and H lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and many plasma cell tumours. Therefore, antibodies to CD79a are useful in the differential diagnosis of B-cell neoplasms from T-cell neoplasms or myeloid neoplasms, or L and H lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin’s lymphoma from classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In addition, CD79a is a useful marker in the diagnosis of precursor B–acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (pre-B–ALL) because many of these tumours are negative for other B-cell markers, such as CD20 and CD45RA.
Cluster of differentiation CD79a also known as B-cell antigen receptor complex-associated protein alpha chain is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CD79A gene. The CD79a protein together with the related CD79b protein, forms a dimer associated with membrane-bound immunoglobulin in B-cells, thus forming the B-cell antigen receptor (BCR), and plays multiple and diverse roles in B cell development and function. CD79a protein is expressed in virtually all mature and immature B cells and the majority of B-cell neoplasms, including precursor B–acute lymphocytic leukaemia (pre-B–ALL), L and H lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and many plasma cell tumours. Therefore, antibodies to CD79a are useful in the differential diagnosis of B-cell neoplasms from T-cell neoplasms or myeloid neoplasms, or L and H lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin’s lymphoma from classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In addition, CD79a is a useful marker in the diagnosis of precursor B–acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (pre-B–ALL) because many of these tumours are negative for other B-cell markers, such as CD20 and CD45RA.
