Cd138

The CD138 molecule is a transmembrane heparan sulfate glycoprotein, a member of the syndecan proteoglycan family. CD138 is expressed at different stages of differentiation in normal lymphoid cells, e.g. pre-B cells, immature B cells and immunoglobulin-producing plasma cells. Furthermore, CD138 is expressed in layered and simple epithelia. Syndecan-1 binds growth factors like a sponge, which are bound to the heparan sulfate chains of the molecule.

The loss of CD138 expression of atypical cells is thought to be an early event in the development of cervical cancer, while CD138 antigen expression is closely related to preserved epithelial morphology and differentiation.

The particular immunohistochemical benefit of CD138 is the quantification of plasma cells.