Details for: CD72

Gene ID: 971

Gene Type:  Protein-coding  - A gene that serves as a template for producing a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule, which is then translated into a functional protein.

Symbol: CD72

Ensembl ID: ENSG00000137101

Description: CD72 molecule

Selected Context(s):  Overall

Cell Significance Landscape

Contexts:

Associated with

Significant Cells

Cell Significance Index (CSI) scores for the chosen context(s)

  • mature B cell CL0000785
    CSI 23.69
    rCSI 20.59%
    PRS 98.94
  • immature B cell CL0000816
    CSI 18.54
    rCSI 13.77%
    PRS 98.84
  • naive B cell CL0000788
    CSI 17.03
    rCSI 14.61%
    PRS 98.28
  • small pre-B-II cell CL0000954
    CSI 9.85
    rCSI 9.47%
    PRS 98.8
  • large pre-B-II cell CL0000957
    CSI 9.24
    rCSI 26.37%
    PRS 96.22
  • unswitched memory B cell CL0000970
    CSI 8.35
    rCSI 7.02%
    PRS 99.08
  • fraction A pre-pro B cell CL0002045
    CSI 7.94
    rCSI 9.09%
    PRS 98.52
  • precursor B cell CL0000817
    CSI 7.07
    rCSI 6.19%
    PRS 98.37
  • ependymal cell CL0000065
    CSI 6.95
    rCSI 14.1%
    PRS 86.61
  • alternatively activated macrophage CL0000890
    CSI 6.84
    rCSI 8.6%
    PRS 99.16
  • pro-B cell CL0000826
    CSI 6.3
    rCSI 5.22%
    PRS 97.76
  • plasmablast CL0000980
    CSI 5.8
    rCSI 4.56%
    PRS 97.23
  • elicited macrophage CL0000861
    CSI 4.87
    rCSI 4.47%
    PRS 98.71
  • late pro-B cell CL0002048
    CSI 4.52
    rCSI 11.32%
    PRS 98.68
  • CD1c-positive myeloid dendritic cell CL0002399
    CSI 4.28
    rCSI 5.17%
    PRS 98.67
  • mononuclear phagocyte CL0000113
    CSI 4.24
    rCSI 9.33%
    PRS 98.11
  • Kupffer cell CL0000091
    CSI 4.09
    rCSI 9.34%
    PRS 97.4
  • germinal center B cell CL0000844
    CSI 3.69
    rCSI 11.02%
    PRS 98.45
  • class switched memory B cell CL0000972
    CSI 3.67
    rCSI 2.74%
    PRS 98.65
  • follicular B cell CL0000843
    CSI 2.49
    rCSI 9.05%
    PRS 99.01
  • transitional stage B cell CL0000818
    CSI 1.96
    rCSI 6.42%
    PRS 99.19
  • common dendritic progenitor CL0001029
    CSI 1.78
    rCSI 2.23%
    PRS 98.74
  • B-1 B cell CL0000819
    CSI 0.8
    rCSI 20.71%
    PRS 99.04
  • B-2 B cell CL0000822
    CSI 0.75
    rCSI 15.98%
    PRS 98.97

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this specific cell.

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this cell type. Calculated using techniques like effect size estimation and bootstrapping for reliability.

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this cell type. Calculated using techniques like effect size estimation and bootstrapping for reliability.
Network Configuration

Explore relationships of the current gene. Select an Interaction Source: 'ONTOLOGY' for shared pathways (GO/Reactome) or 'STRING' for protein-protein interactions. Further refine by selecting context genes and comparing Cell Significance Index (CSI) scores between baseline and target cell types and their specific contexts.

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Comma-separated if multiple.
Legend:
  • Query Gene
  • Node Color (Target Cell CSI, relative to current network):
    • Very High
    • High
    • Medium
    • Low
    • Very Low
    • CSI N/A
  • Node Size: Proportional to Target Cell CSI magnitude
  • STRING PPI Edge
  • Shared Pathway Edge (ONTOLOGY)

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Other Information

This section provides additional information about the gene, including a description generated by an AI language model and details about associated proteins.

## Summary [CD72](/details-gene/971) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 9p13.3 that encodes the B-cell differentiation antigen CD72, a type II transmembrane protein. Functionally, [CD72](/details-gene/971) is recognized as a key negative regulator of the B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathway ([GO:0050859](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/QuickGO/term/GO:0050859)) and is involved in cell adhesion ([GO:0007155](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/QuickGO/term/GO:0007155)). Its expression is a hallmark of the B-lymphocyte lineage, showing exceptionally high significance in cells ranging from early precursors to mature B-cells. The initial identification of the human homolog of this B-cell differentiation antigen was a key step in its characterization ([Link](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2141045/)). Its association with disease is cataloged under OMIM entry [107272](https://omim.org/entry/107272). ## Cellular Roles and Expression Landscape The expression profile of [CD72](/details-gene/971) firmly establishes it as a quintessential marker of the B-cell lineage across various stages of development. **Overall**, its significance is highest in [mature B cell](/details-cell/CL0000785) (CSI: 23.69), [immature B cell](/details-cell/CL0000816) (CSI: 18.54), and [naive B cell](/details-cell/CL0000788) (CSI: 17.03), indicating a crucial and defining role in these cell types. Its consistent high expression extends to earlier developmental stages, including [small pre-B-II cell](/details-cell/CL0000954), [large pre-B-II cell](/details-cell/CL0000957), and [pro-B cell](/details-cell/CL0000826), underscoring its involvement throughout B-cell differentiation. While predominantly a B-cell marker, [CD72](/details-gene/971) also shows moderate significance in other immune cell types, including [alternatively activated macrophage](/details-cell/CL0000890) (CSI: 6.84) and [CD1c-positive myeloid dendritic cell](/details-cell/CL0002399) (CSI: 4.28). This suggests a potential, albeit less prominent, role in antigen presentation or immune regulation within the myeloid compartment. Intriguingly, [CD72](/details-gene/971) also demonstrates significant expression in [ependymal cell](/details-cell/CL0000065) (CSI: 6.95), a finding that aligns with its annotated involvement in nervous system development pathways. ## Pathways and Molecular Function The molecular functions of [CD72](/details-gene/971) are centered on its role as a transmembrane signaling receptor ([GO:0004888](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/QuickGO/term/GO:0004888)) located on the plasma membrane ([GO:0005886](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/QuickGO/term/GO:0005886)). Its primary biological process is the negative regulation of B-cell receptor signaling, which is consistent with its high expression across the B-cell lineage. This regulatory function is critical for maintaining B-cell tolerance and preventing autoimmunity. Beyond immunology, pathway analysis reveals a surprising connection to the nervous system. [CD72](/details-gene/971) is implicated in '[Semaphorin interactions](/details-cell/R-HSA-373755)' and '[Axon guidance](/details-cell/R-HSA-422475)', pathways typically associated with neural development. This is supported by its expression in [ependymal cells](/details-cell/CL0000065) and suggests that [CD72](/details-gene/971) may have a dual role, participating in immune regulation in the periphery and potentially in cell-cell communication or structural maintenance within the central nervous system. Its C-type lectin domain facilitates carbohydrate binding ([GO:0030246](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/QuickGO/term/GO:0030246)), which may mediate its interactions in both immune and neural contexts. ## Research Directions The dual-context expression pattern of [CD72](/details-gene/971) in both the immune and nervous systems presents exciting avenues for future research. Understanding how a single receptor mediates distinct functions in such different biological environments is a key challenge. Based on the available data, several testable hypotheses can be proposed: 1. **Hypothesis 1:** Given its function as a negative regulator of BCR signaling, loss-of-function mutations or reduced expression of [CD72](/details-gene/971) on B-cells lowers the threshold for activation, leading to an increased risk of autoantibody production and contributing to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). 2. **Hypothesis 2:** In the central nervous system, [CD72](/details-gene/971) expressed on [ependymal cells](/details-cell/CL0000065) interacts with a semaphorin ligand to regulate cerebrospinal fluid dynamics or maintain the integrity of the ventricular lining. **Experimental Approach for Hypothesis 1:** To investigate the role of [CD72](/details-gene/971) in autoimmunity, one could utilize a CD72-deficient mouse model on a lupus-prone genetic background (e.g., MRL/lpr). These mice would be monitored for disease progression, including measuring autoantibody titers (e.g., anti-dsDNA), assessing kidney pathology via histology, and analyzing B-cell activation markers (e.g., CD69, CD86) and subset distribution (e.g., germinal center B-cells, plasma cells) by flow cytometry. This would directly test whether the absence of CD72-mediated negative regulation exacerbates autoimmune pathology. **Therapeutic Potential:** As a cell surface protein highly specific to the B-cell lineage, [CD72](/details-gene/971) represents an excellent candidate for targeted therapy. Its expression on both healthy and potentially malignant or autoreactive B-cells makes it a target for depletion strategies. An inhibitory or depleting monoclonal antibody directed against [CD72](/details-gene/971) could be developed for treating B-cell malignancies or autoimmune disorders. Such a therapy could function via antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) or by delivering a cytotoxic payload as an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), offering a specific approach to eliminate pathogenic B-cell populations.

Genular Protein ID: 3039198905

Symbol: CD72_HUMAN

Name: B-cell differentiation antigen CD72

UniProtKB Accession Codes:

P21854

Database IDs:

ABCD 1 AGR 1 AlphaFoldDB 1 Antibodypedia 1 Bgee 1 BioGRID 1 BioGRID-ORCS 1 BioMuta 1 CCDS 1 CTD 1 ChEMBL 1 ChiTaRS 1 DMDM 1 DNASU 1 DisGeNET 1 EMBL 2 Ensembl 1 ExpressionAtlas 1 GO 6 Gene3D 1 GeneCards 1 GeneTree 1 GenomeRNAi 1 GlyCosmos 1 GlyGen 1 HGNC 1 HOGENOM 1 HPA 1 InParanoid 1 IntAct 1 InterPro 4 KEGG 1 MANE-Select 1 MIM 1 MassIVE 1 NCBI Taxonomy 1 OMA 1 OpenTargets 1 OrthoDB 1 PANTHER 2 PIR 1 PRO 1 PROSITE 1 PathwayCommons 1 PaxDb 1 PeptideAtlas 1 Pfam 1 PharmGKB 1 Pharos 1 PhosphoSitePlus 1 PhylomeDB 1 Proteomes 1 ProteomicsDB 1 RNAct 1 Reactome 1 RefSeq 1 SIGNOR 1 SMART 1 SMR 1 STRING 1 SUPFAM 1 SignaLink 1 SwissPalm 1 TreeFam 1 VEuPathDB 1 eggNOG 1 iPTMnet 1 jPOST 1 neXtProt 1

Citations:

PubMed ID: 2141045

Title: Identification of a human protein homologous to the mouse Lyb-2 B cell differentiation antigen and sequence of the corresponding cDNA.

PubMed ID: 2141045

PubMed ID: 15489334

Title: The status, quality, and expansion of the NIH full-length cDNA project: the Mammalian Gene Collection (MGC).

PubMed ID: 15489334

DOI: 10.1101/gr.2596504

Sequence Information:

  • Length: 359
  • Mass: 40220
  • Checksum: 87A52C028AC17E44
  • Sequence:
    • MAEAITYADL RFVKAPLKKS ISSRLGQDPG ADDDGEITYE NVQVPAVLGV PSSLASSVLG 
DKAAVKSEQP TASWRAVTSP AVGRILPCRT TCLRYLLLGL LLTCLLLGVT AICLGVRYLQ 
VSQQLQQTNR VLEVTNSSLR QQLRLKITQL GQSAEDLQGS RRELAQSQEA LQVEQRAHQA 
AEGQLQACQA DRQKTKETLQ SEEQQRRALE QKLSNMENRL KPFFTCGSAD TCCPSGWIMH 
QKSCFYISLT SKNWQESQKQ CETLSSKLAT FSEIYPQSHS YYFLNSLLPN GGSGNSYWTG 
LSSNKDWKLT DDTQRTRTYA QSSKCNKVHK TWSWWTLESE SCRSSLPYIC EMTAFRFPD