The HIT2 antibody reacts with CD38, an ~45 kDa type II transmembrane glycoprotein expressed by many cell types, especially leukocytes. CD38 is an ectoenzyme (ADP-ribosyl hydrolase) with both cyclase and hydrolase activities, whereby it mediates lymphocyte activation, adhesion and metabolism. CD31 is a known ligand for the receptor. In humans, CD38 is expressed by the majority of hematopoietic cells at levels which vary according to the differentiation and activation status of the cells. It is highly expressed on activated T and B cells and plasma cells, and is also found at high levels in several tissues, including brain, kidney, liver, ovary, pancreas, placenta, testis, and some types of cancerous tissue.

This antibody clone has been verified for purity assessments of cells isolated with EasySep™ kits, including EasySep™ Human CD138 Positive Selection Kit II  and EasySep™ Human Whole Blood and Bone Marrow CD138 Positive Selection Kit II