Background of the antigen
SLAM, a novel glycoprotein of 37kDa, designated SLAM (Signaling Lymphocyte Activation Molecule) or CDw150, belongs to the immunoglobulin gene superfamily and is involved in T cell stimulation. SLAM is constitutively expressed on peripheral blood memory T cells, T cell clones, immature thymocytes, and a proportion of B cells, and is rapidly induced on naive T cells after activation. Activated B cells express the membrane bound form of SLAM and the soluble and cytoplasmic isoforms of SLAM, and the expression levels of membrane bound SLAM on B cells are rapidly regulated after activation in vitro. It is suggested that signalling through homophilic SLAM-SLAM binding during B to B and B to T cell interactions enhances the expansion and differentiation of activated B cells. Reports suggest that the extracellular domain of CD150 is the receptor for the measles virus and acts as a co-activator on T cells and B cells.
