Identifying the mechanisms by which CD24 influences B cell development

Cell surface receptors allow cells to sense and respond to their environment. The glycophosphatidylinositol-anchored receptor CD24, also called Heat Stable Antigen, regulates a variety of processes in a cell-type specific manner. In developing B cells, CD24 is known to mediate apoptosis. Much of the mechanisms regulating CD24 expression, its ability to mediate apoptosis and its endogenous ligand in B cells are not known. Thus, identifying how CD24 functions may increase our understanding of B cell development and provide insight into B cell lymphoproliferative diseases such as leukemia.