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Soluble CD21: From Shedding to Autoimmunity

  • Background: Soluble CD21 (sCD21) is the product of metalloprotease-mediated proteolysis of CD21, a mechanism in which the entire extracellular domain of CD21 is shed from the cell surface. Through its retained ligand-binding ability and presence in human serum, sCD21 joins the growing list of surface proteins shed from the leukocyte cell surface which allows modulation of the immune response. Summary: sCD21 plays a multifaceted role in the body, including the promotion of inflammatory responses through receptor-ligand interactions with monocyte CD23, acting as a decoy receptor during Epstein-Barr virus infection preventing lymphoproliferation, and suppression of IgG and IgE responses by competitively inhibiting cell surface CD21. Clinical studies have shown that in comparison with healthy individuals, levels of sCD21 in serum are significantly altered in various diseases, highlighted by diverse viral infections, B-cell leukemias, and autoimmune disorders. Key Messages: Although findings of prevalence and functionality suggest sCD21 to be a key modulator of cellular and humoral immunity, questions remain about its origins and the regulation of its responses. Here, we aim to clarify and connect the advances in understanding sCD21 over time with emphasis on its generation by surface cleavage, binding partners, and functional roles. We also provide an outlook on its clinical significance and usage as a diagnostic target and therapeutic biomarker to monitor treatment efficacy in the context of chronic autoimmune disorders.

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Metadaten
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Author:Mika Pohlen, Francesco Basile, Alexander Glassmann, Harald Illges
Parent Title (English):Immune System
Volume:2
Issue:1
Number of pages:11
First Page:1
Last Page:11
ISSN:2813-0073
URN:urn:nbn:de:hbz:1044-opus-90201
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1159/000544696
Publisher:S. Karger
Publishing Institution:Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg
Date of first publication:2025/05/16
Copyright:© 2025 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Keywords:Autoimmunity; B cells; Biomarkers; Epstein-Barr virus; Multiple sclerosis; Soluble CD21
Departments, institutes and facilities:Fachbereich Angewandte Naturwissenschaften
Institut für funktionale Gen-Analytik (IFGA)
Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC):6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
Open access funding:Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg / Publikationsfonds / Förderung durch den Publikationsfonds der H-BRS
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft / DFG Förderung Open Access Publikationskosten 2023 - 2025
Entry in this database:2025/05/27
Licence (German):License LogoCreative Commons - CC BY-NC - Namensnennung - Nicht kommerziell 4.0 International